Sr. Buyer

CFS; Winsted (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

CFS is seeking a Senior Buyer for our manufacturing operation in Winsted, CT. This role oversees daily purchasing, supplier relationships, and procurement strategy to support production goals.

The ideal candidate brings 5+ years of manufacturing purchasing experience, strong negotiation and leadership skills, and a proven track record of optimizing cost, quality, and delivery. This onsite role reports to operations leadership and partners with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive purchasing/procurement experience in manufacturing.
• Experience purchasing raw materials and manufacturing components.
• Experience leading or managing a purchasing team.
• Strong negotiation skills with proven success.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily purchasing activities to procure raw materials, components, and production supplies.
• Mentor purchasing/procurement team members.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, lead times, and supplier contracts.
• Monitor inventory, forecasts, and production schedules to avoid disruption.
• Develop procurement strategies to improve cost, quality, and delivery.
• Maintain purchasing records and ensure ERP data accuracy.

Skills

Negotiation

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Senior Buyer

Location: Winsted, Connecticut

Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Salary: $90,000–$105,000 per year

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Senior Buyer to join our manufacturing organization in Winsted, CT. This position will play a key role in managing purchasing activities, supplier relationships, material availability, and procurement strategy while supporting the organization's production and operational goals.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of progressive purchasing/procurement experience within a manufacturing environment, including experience purchasing raw materials and managing or mentoring a purchasing team. Strong communication, negotiation, analytical, and leadership skills are essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily purchasing activities to ensure the timely and cost-effective procurement of raw materials, components, and production supplies.
• Manage, mentor, and provide direction to members of the purchasing/procurement team.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and strategically manage vendor performance.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, payment terms, lead times, delivery schedules, and other commercial agreements with suppliers.
• Monitor raw material requirements, inventory levels, forecasts, and production schedules to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
• Analyze supplier pricing, market conditions, material costs, and purchasing trends to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Partner closely with Operations, Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to ensure materials are available when needed.
• Review purchase orders and ensure purchasing activity aligns with company policies, budgets, quality requirements, and production needs.
• Identify and resolve supplier performance issues involving pricing, quality, delivery, or availability.
• Support supplier selection, qualification, development, and ongoing performance management.
• Develop procurement strategies designed to improve cost, quality, delivery, and overall supply-chain performance.
• Monitor inventory and purchasing metrics and provide reporting and analysis to leadership.
• Assist with forecasting and long-term material planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes, strengthen supplier relationships, and increase overall procurement efficiency.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and ensure ERP purchasing data is current and accurate.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, or buying experience.
• Recent manufacturing experience is required.
• Proven experience purchasing raw materials and manufacturing components.
• Previous experience leading, supervising, or managing a purchasing/procurement team.
• Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated success achieving favorable pricing, terms, and supplier agreements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and resolving vendor issues.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, material requirements, lead times, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to work effectively with Operations, Production, Finance, Engineering, and other cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strong purchasing leader and communicator who understands the unique demands of a manufacturing environment. You should be comfortable negotiating with suppliers, managing a team, analyzing material costs, and making purchasing decisions that directly impact production, profitability, and customer satisfaction.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Buyer who wants to take ownership of the purchasing function, develop a team, strengthen supplier partnerships, and make a meaningful impact on the overall performance of the organization.

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