Senior Buyer

CABKA Group GmbH; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Flexible schedule

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Referral program

Vision insurance

Job summary

Cabka Group in St. Louis seeks an experienced Senior Buyer with a background in plastics. You will lead category and spend management across direct and indirect materials, focusing on PP, PE, recycled polymers and additives to secure supply and drive cost savings.

You will negotiate supplier agreements, collaborate with Planning, Production, Quality and Finance, and manage purchasing to ensure uninterrupted operations in a global manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive procurement experience, preferably in plastics manufacturing
• Plastics industry experience with direct materials purchasing (PP/PE/recycled polymers/additives)
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills
• Ability to interpret technical specs, data sheets and drawings
• Experience with SAP MM purchasing module
• Fluent English and valid driver’s license

Responsibilities

• Category & Spend Management: oversee about $12M annual spend across direct/indirect materials, focusing on raw materials like PP, PE, recycled polymers and additives
• Strategic Sourcing & Cost Optimization: develop sourcing strategies, identify alternative suppliers, and drive cost-saving initiatives
• Supplier Management & Negotiation: select, evaluate and negotiate with suppliers; establish pricing, terms and agreements
• Purchasing & Supply Continuity: manage purchasing from quotation to PO and delivery, mitigate delays and supply risks
• Market & Supplier Performance: monitor prices and supplier performance to identify opportunities
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: align local needs with global purchasing priorities with Planning, Production, Quality, Engineering, Finance and Logistics

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation

Cost optimization

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

SAP MM

Excel

Job description

Cabka develops clever and transformative solutions for shipping goods around the world. We take plastic waste and transform it into reusable transport packaging. This is how we turn the used into the useful. Transformation is our power because we know that while resources are limited, possibilities are endless. Together with our customers, we transform entire supply chains and beyond, combining technology, innovation, and sustainability.

Strong procurement is key to keeping our operations competitive and running smoothly. We are looking for an experienced Senior Buyer with a background in the plastics industry who combines strong supplier management and negotiation skills with a focus on cost, quality and supply security.

Ready to make an impact in an international environment? Join us as

Senior Buyer

based in St. Louis

Your responsibilities

• Category & Spend Management: Manage approximately $12M in annual spend across direct and indirect categories, with a strong focus on raw materials such as PP, PE, recycled polymers and plastic additives.
• Strategic Sourcing & Cost Optimization: Develop sourcing strategies, identify alternative suppliers and materials, and drive measurable cost-saving initiatives while improving commercial conditions and supply security.
• Supplier Management & Negotiation: Select, evaluate and develop suppliers, lead commercial negotiations and establish agreements covering pricing, payment terms, delivery conditions and other key terms.
• Purchasing & Supply Continuity: Manage purchasing activities from quotation through Purchase Order and delivery, proactively addressing delays, shortages and supply risks to support uninterrupted plant operations.
• Market & Supplier Performance: Monitor raw material prices, market developments and supplier performance to identify sourcing opportunities, improve competitiveness and mitigate risks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Planning, Production, Quality, Engineering, Finance and Logistics and collaborate with Group Purchasing to align local requirements with global procurement priorities.

Your profile

• Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or a related field, with at least 5 years of progressive procurement or purchasing experience.
• Plastics Industry Experience: Proven procurement experience in the plastics industry, including at least 3 years of direct materials purchasing, ideally involving PP, PE, recycled polymers and plastic additives. Previous procurement experience in an industrial manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Technical & Commercial Expertise: Strong understanding of polymers, manufacturing processes, product costing and cost drivers, with the ability to interpret technical specifications, data sheets and drawings.
• Supplier & Cost Management: Proven experience in supplier negotiations, commercial agreements, supplier performance management and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Stakeholder & Analytical Skills: Strong negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills, combined with a proactive, analytical and commercially minded approach.
• Systems, Language & Mobility: At least 3 years of hands-on SAP MM purchasing experience, advanced Excel skills, fluent English and a valid driver's license.

What we offer

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

We embrace Diversity and Inclusion and are committed to providing equal opportunities to all of our applicants as well as our employees – regardless of gender, age, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity, physical and mental ability, cultural, ethnic or national origins. Are you an innovativeout-of-the-box thinker with a passion for changing the world to the better tomorrow?

Then we are looking forward to your application!

We embrace Diversity and Inclusion and are committed to providing equal opportunities to all of our applicants as well as our employees – regardless of gender, age, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity, physical and mental ability, cultural, ethnic or national origins. Are you an innovativeout-of-the-box thinker with a passion for changing the world to the better tomorrow?

Then we are looking forward to your application!