SENIOR BUYER

Kent Corporation; Muscatine (IA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent Worldwide in Muscatine, IA is seeking a Senior Buyer to drive sourcing excellence across the organization. In this collaborative role you will partner with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities, negotiate value-driven agreements, and ensure materials meet high standards of quality and performance.

You will lead procurement across multiple facilities, develop category strategies, and build strong cross-functional partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations or Supply Chain Management or related field.
• Prefer 6+ years purchasing experience.
• Full knowledge of industry practices.
• Strong understanding of operational flows, planning and scheduling.
• Food manufacturing experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement of supplier services and indirect materials across multiple facilities.
• Develop category strategies and roadmaps while providing guidance across assigned spend categories.
• Negotiate supplier contracts to optimize quality, service, pricing, and volume agreements; present recommendations to the Procurement Sourcing Board.
• Resolve supplier-related issues including claims, rejections, returns, overshipments, cancellations, and other performance concerns.
• Secure favorable vendor terms, pricing, and delivery schedules that align with business objectives and budget requirements.
• Evaluate suppliers through contract management and site visits to ensure compliance, capability, performance, and delivery expectations.
• Lead cross-functional projects, provide team leadership as needed, and develop innovative solutions to complex business challenges.
• Build strong stakeholder partnerships by delivering exceptional service, fostering long-term relationships, and supporting organizational goals.

Skills

Procurement

Negotiation

Category management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Operations or Supply Chain Management

Job description

At KENT WORLDWIDE, growth creates opportunity. As our Procurement team continues to expand, we're excited to add a newly created Senior Buyer role to help drive sourcing excellence across the organization! In this collaborative position, you'll partner with suppliers and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities, negotiate value-driven agreements, and ensure the products and materials that support our business meet the highest standards of quality and performance. If you're looking for an opportunity to build, influence, and grow alongside a team that's investing in the future, this could be the role for you!

• This position is designed and intended to be performed in Muscatine, IA.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead procurement of supplier services and indirect materials across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Develop category strategies and roadmaps while providing guidance across assigned spend categories.
• Negotiate supplier contracts to optimize quality, service, pricing, and volume agreements; present recommendations to the Procurement Sourcing Board.
• Resolve supplier-related issues including claims, rejections, returns, overshipments, cancellations, and other performance concerns.
• Secure favorable vendor terms, pricing, and delivery schedules that align with business objectives and budget requirements.
• Evaluate suppliers through contract management and site visits to ensure compliance, capability, performance, and delivery expectations.
• Lead cross-functional projects, provide team leadership as needed, and develop innovative solutions to complex business challenges.
• Build strong stakeholder partnerships by delivering exceptional service, fostering long-term relationships, and supporting organizational goals.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations or Supply Chain Management, Business, Economics, or experienced professional with a complete understanding and application of purchasing principles, concepts, practices, and standards as demonstrated
• Prefer 6+ years purchasing experience
• Full knowledge of industry practices
• Strong understanding of operational flows, planning and scheduling
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to speak and communicate with many levels within the organization
• Must be able to operate with a wide degree of creativity and latitude
• Food manufacturing experience preferred

TRAVEL:

• Up to 20% - meetings, conventions, and/or vendor visits

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.