Senior Sourcing Buyer

Gutor; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Paid Time Off 20 days

401(k) matching

Dental and Vision Insurance

FSA/HSA

Life Insurance

Voluntary life insurance

Health & Fitness Reimbursement

Job summary

Gutor, based in Houston, TX, is seeking a Senior Sourcing Buyer to lead regional sourcing for transformer components, sheet metal, and metals. You will drive RFQ/RFP processes, supplier benchmarking, and TCO analyses to secure high-quality, cost-efficient materials for UPS manufacturing.

The ideal candidate has an engineering background, 5–8 years in strategic sourcing, and strong leadership. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and mentor junior buyers in a regulated, high-spec

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing strategy with a focus on local sources for transformer components, sheet metal parts, and metals.
• Lead RFQ/RFP processes, supplier benchmarking, and total cost of ownership evaluations.
• Monitor supplier KPIs and lead performance improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Project Management to align sourcing with technical requirements.
• Mentor junior buyers and contribute to knowledge sharing.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytical

Project Management

English (Fluent)

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in SCM or related field

Tools

SAP

Cost Modelling

Job description

## Senior Sourcing BuyerApply: USA - Houston, Texas (Office): Full time: Posted 4 Days Ago: JR100558Gutor 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.)* Lead RFQ/RFP processes, supplier benchmarking, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations in these and other categories/technologies as assigned. 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 range for this position is $100,000-$110,000 USD, depending on experience and qualifications.* Paid holidays* Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation* 401(k) plan: up to 6% company matching contribution* Cigna Dental and Vision Insurance* FSA and HSA savings account options* Basic Life and AD&D Insurance* Voluntary supplemental life insurance* Health & Fitness Reimbursement **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.*