Senior Sourcing Buyer

Gutor Electronic Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Paid Time Off: 20 days vacation

401(k) with company matching

Health, Dental & Vision insurance (CIG

FSA/HSA options

Life and AD&D Insurance

Voluntary life insurance

Health & Fitness reimbursement

Job summary

Gutor Electrical is seeking a Senior Sourcing Buyer to lead regional sourcing strategies for transformer technology, sheet metal, and metals. You will identify local suppliers, manage supplier performance, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Manufacturing to meet stringent spec and regulatory requirements.

The role requires 5–8 years in strategic sourcing, strong leadership, and proficiency with SAP. Travel up to 20% is expected, with US work authorization needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field; 5–8 years in strategic sourcing or procurement.
• 5–8 years’ experience with 3–5 years in transformer and/or metal fabrication suppliers/categories.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
• Proficient in ERP systems (SAP) and sourcing tools (cost modelling).
• Fluent in English; additional languages a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies focused on transformer components, sheet metal parts, and raw/metals.
• Identify, qualify, and manage suppliers; establish long-term partnerships; monitor KPIs.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Project Management to align sourcing with requirements.
• Lead cost optimization, value engineering, and risk mitigation initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with policies and regulatory standards; maintain documentation and reports.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership

Negotiation

Project management

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (Supply Chain/Engineering)

Tools

SAP

Cost modelling

Job description

Gutor is a leading international manufacturer of UPS systems for industrial applications. The company has been in business for over 75 years and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality products and services. Gutor's products are designed to meet the demanding needs of industries such as oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical, nuclear, and transportation. The company also has a global presence with over 600 employees in more than 30 countries and branches in Brazil, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S.A to name a few.

Gutor is committed to providing its customers with the best possible support. The company has a team of experienced engineers and technicians who are available to help with any problems that may arise.

Senior Sourcing Buyer with a specialized focus on transformer technology, metal alloys (like copper and aluminium), and sheet metal. This role is instrumental in leading regional sourcing strategies, optimizing supplier performance, and ensuring the procurement of high-quality, cost-effective materials and components essential to UPS Manufacturing.

The ideal candidate will bring an engineering background, market knowledge of transformer and/or metal fabrication industries, and a proven ability to manage complex supply chains in high-specification, regulated, and/or custom-engineered environments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sourcing, Vendor & Commodity Management:

• - Developing and executing sourcing strategy with a strong focus on identifying local sources for:
• - Transformer components (e.g., magnetic cores, windings, insulation systems, bushings, tap changers).
• - Sheet metal parts (e.g., enclosures, distribution panels, brackets, structural frames).
• - Raw and semi-finished metals (e.g., copper, aluminium, steel, laminated cores).
• - Other technologies as needed (e.g. cables, wires, etc.).

Supplier Development & Relationship Management:

• - Identifying, qualifying, and selecting reliable suppliers/vendors.
• - Establishing long-term partnerships to ensure the availability of high-quality materials, equipment, and services.
• - Conduct global market analysis to identify cost drivers, emerging suppliers, and innovation opportunities.
• - Monitor supplier KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness) and lead performance improvement initiatives
• - Ensure the operational relationships with allocated suppliers and drive sustainable competition into the supplier panel

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Teamwork:

• - Work closely with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Sustaining, Quality, Manufacturing, and Project Management to ensure sourcing strategies align with technical and operational requirements.
• - Act as a key contributor in cross-departmental project teams, particularly in engineer-to-order (ETO) programs.
• - Facilitate effective communication between internal stakeholders and external suppliers to ensure alignment on specifications, timelines, and quality expectations
• - Mentor junior buyers and contribute to knowledge sharing within the procurement team.

Cost Optimization & Risk Mitigation:

• - Drive continuous improvement and Cost reduction through analysing value engineering, should-cost analysis, and alternative sourcing
• - Evaluating supplier proposals to ensure cost-effectiveness.
• - Contribute to margin improvement through material cost down and support supply chain improvements through cross functional teams.

Risk Management, Compliance & Documentation:

• - Assess and mitigate risks related to raw material volatility, geopolitical factors in the region, and supply chain disruptions.
• - Negotiate long-term agreements and propose hedging strategies for critical metals and materials
• - Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies, industry standards (e.g., ISO, IEC), and regulatory requirements (e.g., RoHS, REACH).
• - Maintain accurate records of contracts, supplier audits, and sourcing decisions. Generating reports on supplier performance, cost savings, and other key metrics to support decision-making and provide insights to stakeholders.
• - Identifying potential risks in the procurement process and proposing risk mitigation strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and company policies.

• - First escalation level for supplier crisis management in the region

SECONDARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• - Ensure the involvement of the purchasing function, the introduction of supplier strategies as early as possible in the project stage, aligning as needed with our NPD Buyer
• - Identifying potential risks in the procurement process and proposing risk mitigation strategies, while ensuring compliance with regulatory and company policies.
• - Support of general activities in the procurement department as required to maintain business.
• - SAP (Vendor creation coordination, PIR/Source List maintenance, etc.)
• - Additional, sourcing as required, to maintain the plant operations.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS – REQUIRED

• - Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in Supply Chain Management, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or related field
• - 5-8 years’ experience in strategic sourcing or procurement with at least 3–5 years in managing transformer and/or metal fabrication suppliers/categories.
• - Strong leadership skills, with demonstrated results
• - Proficient in ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and sourcing tools (e.g. cost modelling).
• - Excellent negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
• - Fluent in English; additional languages (Spanish, German, Mandarin) are a plus

Preferred Industry Experience – DESIRED BUT NOT ESSENTIAL

• - Industrial UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) manufacturing, especially involving large-scale or mission-critical systems.
• - Engineer-to-Order (ETO) environments, where sourcing must align with custom specifications, tight timelines, and collaborative design
• - Nuclear energy or other highly regulated industries with strict quality and traceability requirements.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• - Travel: Willingness to travel up to 20%, including international travel, to visit suppliers, attend audits, and support sourcing initiatives.
• - Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored visa sponsorship now or in the future.
• - Team Orientation: Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative mindset are essential. Ability to work effectively in a matrixed, multicultural, and cross-functional environment.
• - Flexibility and ability to transition in an ever-changing environment.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• - The base salary rangefor this position is $100,000-$110,000 USD, depending on experience and qualifications.
• - Paidholidays
• - PaidTimeOff:20daysofvacation
• - 401(k)plan:upto6%companymatchingcontribution
• - CignaDentalandVisionInsurance
• - FSAandHSA savingsaccountoptions
• - BasicLife andAD&DInsurance
• - Voluntarysupplementallifeinsurance
• - Health&FitnessReimbursement

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to sit for long periods of time, stand, talk and hear.

Gutor is an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.