Senior OR1 Project Buyer

KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG; Stafford (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical / Dental / Vision including a

3 weeks vacation accrual

401(k) retirement with company match

Tuition reimbursement

HSA accounts with company contribution

Life, STD & LTD Insurance

Fitness reimbursement

Job summary

KARL STORZ North America is seeking a Senior Project Buyer to lead end-to-end procurement for key projects. You will partner with Engineering, Quality, Operations, and global procurement to drive supplier selection, negotiations, and risk management for a production-ready supply chain.

You will manage make-versus-buy decisions, develop sourcing strategies, and ensure materials readiness for production transitions, with travel up to 20% to support global projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience with strategic sourcing and supplier risk management.
• Strong SAP or comparable ERP/MRP experience including POs and material master management.

Responsibilities

• Lead competitive sourcing processes (RFPs, RFQs, RFIs) for complex projects and material requirements.
• Develop and execute project and category sourcing strategies focused on total cost, quality, delivery, and supply continuity.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, onboard, and develop suppliers with cross-functional teams.
• Lead supplier negotiations, bid evaluations, cost breakdowns, and TCO analyses.
• Manage contracts, NDAs, supplier agreements, POs, and other commercial documentation.
• Build strategic supplier relationships and monitor performance, risk, and continuity.

Skills

Procurement experience

SAP or ERP/MRP

Analytical skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Communication

Project management

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Business, or related discipline

Tools

SAP/ERP experience

Job description

At KARL STORZ, we take pride in helping patients
through some of the toughest journeys of their lives.
We are making contributions that matter.
Regardless of your role, YOU improve patients' lives every day

From the operating room to surgery centers-and everywhere in between-KARL STORZ North America is a global leader in medical technology and advanced visualization solutions. We design specialty innovations, smart instruments and devices, integrated ecosystems, and intelligent imaging-to build a more connected, software-enabled operating room.

As an independent, family-owned MedTech company, we ambitiously think in generations instead of quarters to improve patients' lives around the world.

About the Role

KARL STORZ is seeking a Senior Project Buyer to lead end-to-end procurement activities across key projects and purchasing categories. This role will develop and execute sourcing strategies while balancing cost, quality, delivery, technical requirements, and long-term supply continuity.

As a senior commercial partner, you’ll work closely with Engineering, Project Management, Quality, Operations, and our global procurement network to lead supplier selection and negotiations, manage commercial and supply risk, and ensure materials are ready for a successful transition into production.

This role requires up to 20% travel.

What You’ll Do

Lead competitive sourcing processes, including RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs, for complex project and material requirements.

Develop and execute project and category sourcing strategies focused on total cost, quality, delivery, capacity, compliance, and supply continuity.

Identify, evaluate, qualify, onboard, and develop suppliers in partnership with Engineering, Supplier Quality, Legal, Risk, Master Data, and Operational Procurement.

Lead supplier negotiations, commercial bid evaluations, cost breakdowns, benchmarking, and total-cost-of-ownership analyses.

Manage contracts, NDAs, supplier agreements, purchase orders, and other commercial documentation in accordance with procurement and legal requirements.

Build strategic supplier relationships and lead supplier performance, risk, capacity, and continuity discussions.

Develop mitigation strategies for supplier risks, including alternate sourcing, capacity planning, inventory strategies, and recovery plans.

Partner with Engineering and project teams to translate technical, electrical, mechanical, and quality requirements into actionable sourcing plans.

Lead procurement activities throughout prototyping, design transfer, product release, and sustaining phases.

Lead make-versus-buy and buy-versus-buy assessments and present data-driven recommendations to senior leadership.

Develop procurement schedules, identify critical-path materials, monitor supplier commitments, and proactively elevate project risks.

Oversee key Material Requirements Planning and demand forecasting activities, including inventory analysis, backorder mitigation, PO reporting, and inventory turns.

Collaborate with Marketing and Product Management to develop demand and supply plans.

Maintain accurate SAP purchasing records, supplier confirmations, pricing conditions, purchase orders, and material data.

Track and report procurement KPIs, including savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, lead times, sourcing progress, and project risk.

Coordinate the hand-off of released materials, supplier agreements, sourcing documentation, and open actions to Operational Purchasing.

Mentor Project Buyers and provide onboarding, coaching, and practical guidance without direct supervisory responsibility.

Identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities across sourcing, procurement processes, supplier collaboration, and data quality.

What You Bring

5+ years of relevant procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or transferable experience.

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Business, Accounting, Manufacturing, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant work experience.

Demonstrated experience with strategic sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiation, commercial analysis, and supplier risk management.

Strong SAP or comparable ERP/MRP experience, including purchase orders, supplier data, pricing, and material master management.

Experience developing and executing material group or category sourcing strategies.

Experience managing projects and partnering with cross-functional teams.

Strong analytical skills with the ability to review large amounts of data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.

Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing business needs.

What Will Make You Successful

Master's degree in Supply Chain or a related discipline and/or certifications such as CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent credentials.

Experience creating and presenting make-versus-buy, buy-versus-buy, supplier selection, and commercial recommendations to senior leadership.

Advanced Microsoft Excel and broader Microsoft Office Suite skills.

Strong knowledge of Material Requirements Planning, demand forecasting, inventory management, and SAP.

Ability to combine financial and business acumen with strong supplier negotiation and relationship-management skills.

Experience working across global, multicultural, and cross-functional teams.

Ability to constructively challenge sourcing assumptions and identify opportunities for value engineering, standardization, cost reduction, and supply-chain improvement.

A results-oriented, self-motivated approach with the ability to work independently while effectively influencing stakeholders across multiple functions.

Strong knowledge within assigned purchasing categories and the ability to serve as a procurement subject-matter expert.

Why KARL STORZ?

Join KARL STORZ and be part of a team creating medical innovations that truly make a difference. Beyond technology, you’ll be part of a culture that values talent as its greatest asset, empowering you to contribute to a mission that improves patient care worldwide.

MA Applicants: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

• Medical / Dental / Vision including a state-of-the-art wellness program and access to pet insurance, too!
• 3 weeks vacation accrual for full time roles,* paid holidays plus paid sick time too
• Up to 8 weeks of 100% paid company parental leave; includes maternal/ paternal leave, adoption, and fostering of a child.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan providing a match of 66.67% (4%) of the employee’s first 6% contribution (up to IRS limits)
• Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts
• HSA Savings Accounts with company contribution
• Life, STD & LTD Insurance
• We prepay your tuition up to $5,250 per year! - Tuition pre-imbursement
• Fitness reimbursement of up to $200 annually
• And much more!
  * Field sales, internships, and roles that are regularly scheduled to work less than 30 hours per week are not eligible for vacation, except where required by law.
  Non-employees, including temporary workers and consultants, are not eligible to participate in the KARL STORZ benefits program.
  KARL STORZ reserves the right to change or modify the employee’s job description whether orally or in writing, at any time during the employment relationship. Additionally, KARL STORZ, through its supervisors, may require an employee to perform duties outside their normal description within the sole discretion of the supervisor. Employees must comply will all applicable KARL STORZ policies and procedures.

KARL STORZ is committed to maintaining a safe work environment for our employees and customers. Most field-based roles at KARL STORZ require hospital credentialing/health screens as acondition of employment. Credentialing can include required vaccinations, health screens & other requirements as outlined by our customers. During the interview process, we encourage you to askhow credentialing/health screens may impact the role you are seeking and if you require any reasonable accommodations regarding these requirements.