Senior Procurement Specialist

AT3 Professional Staffing Solutions, Inc.; Dayton (OH); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AT3 Professional Staffing Solutions, Inc. client seeks a Senior Procurement Specialist to proactively manage supplier performance, material continuity, and supply risk to support production stability and business growth in Dayton, Ohio.

The role collaborates with Production Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Operations to strengthen supplier readiness, improve continuity, support New Product Development, and drive supplier performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required or preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of procurement or supply-chain experience in manufacturing.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems for purchasing and planning.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Assess supplier operational risks including financial stability, capacity, geopolitical exposure, and supply dependencies.
• Develop mitigation plans to minimize disruptions and improve business continuity.
• Monitor market conditions, raw material trends, and external factors affecting supply availability or pricing.
• Support stabilization efforts during disruption or changing demand.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems and data analysis to identify supply risks and shortages.
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers and distributors.
• Conduct supplier assessments focused on capacity, labor, equipment, environment, and readiness.
• Resolve supplier issues related to quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative suppliers to strengthen resilience.

Skills

Procurement

Supplier management

Supply chain

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our client is seeking a Senior Procurement Specialist to proactively manage supplier performance, material continuity, and supply risk to support operational stability and business growth. This individual will focus on identifying and resolving potential material shortages before they impact production through data analysis, supplier collaboration, and cross-functional coordination.

The role partners closely with Production Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to strengthen supplier readiness, improve supply continuity, support New Product Development (NPD), and drive supplier performance improvements. This position will play a key role in supplier development initiatives, cost optimization efforts, and continuous improvement activities designed to improve supply chain resiliency and operational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Operations & Risk Management

• Assess supplier operational risks, including financial stability, capacity limitations, geopolitical exposure, and supply dependencies.
• Develop mitigation plans to minimize supply disruptions and improve business continuity.
• Monitor market conditions, raw material trends, and external factors that may impact supply availability or pricing.
• Support supply chain stabilization efforts during periods of disruption or changing business demand.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems and data analysis to identify supply risks and material shortages.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and distributors.
• Conduct supplier assessments focused on production capacity, labor availability, equipment capability, environmental compliance, and operational readiness.
• Resolve supplier issues related to quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative suppliers to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Inventory & Material Planning

• Collaborate with Production, Planning, and Warehouse teams to ensure material availability.
• Support inventory optimization efforts to balance service levels and inventory investment.
• Monitor Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Just-In-Time (JIT) programs.
• Analyze purchasing trends and demand forecasts to support material planning, blanket order strategies, and cost control initiatives.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead initiatives to improve supplier performance, procurement efficiency, and supply chain responsiveness.
• Develop and track supplier and procurement metrics including cost savings, on-time delivery, lead time reduction, and quality performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve supply chain efficiency, supplier resiliency, and operational effectiveness.
• Support cost reduction initiatives through supplier negotiations, RFQs, quote analysis, sourcing activities, and supplier collaboration.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and proactive problem-solving throughout the supply base.

New Product Development (NPD) Support

• Support new product introductions through supplier sourcing, quotation management, supplier readiness evaluations, and launch coordination.
• Analyze Bills of Material (BOMs) against ERP data to identify discrepancies and ensure material readiness.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality teams to ensure supplier capabilities align with product requirements.
• Support supplier qualification and selection activities for both new and existing products.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of procurement, sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems for purchasing, planning, and inventory management.

Skills & Experience

• Strong understanding of procurement, sourcing, supplier management, and supply chain principles.
• Experience identifying, analyzing, and mitigating material shortages within manufacturing environments.
• Analytical mindset with experience supporting cost reduction and supply risk mitigation initiatives.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Production, Quality, Planning, and Operations teams.
• Experience with supplier performance management and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ERP systems.
• Combination office and manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to machinery, noise, and varying temperatures within production areas.

Success Factors

• Proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to build relationships across internal teams and supplier partners.
• Focus on operational excellence, continuous improvement, and supply chain performance.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.