Senior Operational Buyer

Watson-Marlow - North America; Harvard (MA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5% employer 401K contribution

16 weeks parental leave at 100% pay

Generous vacation and sick leave

3 paid volunteer days

3 healthcare plans with HSA contributions

Job summary

Watson-Marlow - North America is seeking a Senior Operational Buyer located in Devens, MA. The role involves day-to-day purchasing execution, ensuring supply continuity, and managing supplier interactions. Candidates should have over 8 years of procurement experience and strong organizational skills. This position offers a competitive salary ranging from $79,000 to $100,000 annually and includes a robust benefits package such as a retirement plan and comprehensive parental leave policy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of procurement or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience managing complex MRP environment.
• Ability to analyze data for informed decisions.

Responsibilities

• Execute purchase orders based on demand plans.
• Ensure on-time delivery to support production.
• Manage supplier interactions and performance.

Skills

Procurement experience

Supply chain management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Flexibility

Tools

ERP systems (e.g. Dynamics AX)

Job description

Job Title: Senior Operational Buyer

Location: WMFTS - USA - Supply - Devens, MA

Location Type: On‑Site

Website: https://www.wmfts.com/en/

Group: https://www.spiraxgroup.com/

When you join Watson‑Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions, a part of the Spirax Group, you will be integrated into a cooperative and encouraging team, participate in challenging yet critical work, and experience ongoing growth opportunities to help you achieve your full potential. Visit our website to learn more.

This Role Will Focus On

Who we are

Watson‑Marlow is an industry‑leading technology organisation dedicated to engineering fluid management solutions for the life science and process industries. We help our customers to supply critical products and services that range from fresh drinking water and therapeutic medicines to food products and paper. Through our solutions we help companies to be more efficient, sustainable and profitable.

Role Summary

The Sr. Operational Buyer is responsible for day‑to‑day purchasing execution to ensure continuity of supply, on‑time delivery, and stable operational performance at site or regional level.

The role focuses on execution, supplier follow‑up, and delivery performance, operating within the framework and strategies defined by Strategic / Category Procurement.

What You’ll Be Doing

Purchasing Execution & Supply Continuity

• Execute purchase orders in line with MRP signals, demand plans, and agreed contracts
• Ensure on‑time, in‑full (OTIF) delivery to support production and customer commitments
• Act as the first line of response for shortages, delays, and supply disruptions
• Expedite critical materials and manage short‑term supply risks

Supplier Operational Management

• Manage day‑to‑day supplier interactions (order confirmation, delivery dates, quantities)
• Monitor and improve supplier delivery performance
• Drive corrective actions with suppliers for late deliveries, shortages, or non‑conformities
• Escalate recurring or critical issues through the defined escalation process

Collaboration & Interface Management

• Work closely with Planning, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality teams
• Provide operational input and feedback to Category Managers / Global Category Leads
• Support supplier transitions, localization initiatives, and dual‑sourcing actions
• Contribute to NPI execution by ensuring operational readiness of suppliers

Systems, Data & Process Compliance

• Execute purchasing activities in ERP systems (e.g. Dynamics AX) with high data accuracy
• Maintain accurate pricing, lead times, order quantities, and confirmations
• Apply standard procurement processes, governance, and ways of working
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within Operational Procurement
• Other duties as assigned

This is what you’ll need to be successful in this role

• You will have 8+ years’ experience of procurement or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
• Hands on experience managing complex MRP environment
• Strong sense of ownership for supply continuity
• You have the ability to analyze data, such as inventory levels, and supplier performance metrics, to make informed decisions and develop effective procurement plans.
• Ability to manage multiple procurement projects simultaneously requiring excellent organizational skills to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and ensure smooth operations.
• You can effectively communicate as a liaison with suppliers, collaborating with internal teams, and conveying information clearly and concisely. You are able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• You will need to be flexible and have the ability to adapt to changing priorities, market conditions, and project requirements is essential in procurement.
• Having an understanding of manufacturing processes and familiarity with materials and components being procured is a plus for effective decision‑making and supplier interactions.
• It is important for you to uphold ethical standards and integrity which is paramount in procurement. As our Sr. Operations Buyer you must conduct yourself ethically in all interactions with suppliers, colleagues, and stakeholders to maintain trust and credibility as part of our values.

This position offers a salary range of (USD 79,000.00 - 100,000.00 Salaried). Final salary offers are determined by multiple factors, including education, experience, internal equity, geographic location, and the candidate’s expertise, and therefore may vary from the range listed. For roles based outside Massachusetts, the applicable salary range may be lower.

At Watson‑Marlow, we believe in taking care of our colleagues. We offer a generous benefits package, including:

• Robust Retirement Plan: Benefit from a 5% employer 401K contribution, plus a 50% match on up to 3% of your contributions for added financial security, empowering your financial security.
• Comprehensive and Supportive Parental Leave: Experience our inclusive, gender‑neutral parental leave policy, offering 16 weeks at 100% pay. Upon your return, enjoy a gradual transition with a unique 80% work schedule while still receiving 100% of your pay for the first 6 months, ensuring a balanced reintegration into the workplace.
• Generous Time Off: Enjoy ample time off to recharge and attend to life's circumstances with generous vacation and well‑being day, 9 observed holidays, 1 floating holiday day, up to 15 caregiver days, and 80 hours of annual sick leave.
• Community Engagement Opportunities: Make a difference with 3 paid volunteer days each year, encouraging you to give back to the community and causes you care about.
• And Many More Benefits: Such as an offering of 3 healthcare plans with HSA contributions along with other benefits designed to support your well‑being and professional growth. We invite you to explore all the ways we strive to create a fulfilling and rewarding work environment.

Everyone is Included at Spirax Group

We are passionate about creating inclusive and equitable working cultures where everyone can be themselves and achieve their full potential. For us, that means supportive teams and strong relationships where everyone’s contribution is valued across social and cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, genders, gender identities, abilities, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and everything else that makes us human and unique.
We know that everyone needs some extra help from time to time, so we have introduced a range of additional benefits through our Group Inclusion Commitments. Learn more at Our Inclusion Commitments.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Watson‑Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or other protected characteristics as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Watson‑Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Company Overview

At Watson‑Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions, we are driven by innovation and are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is empowered to make a difference. As a world leader in manufacturing peristaltic pumps and associated fluid path technologies for the life sciences and process industries, we offer a wide range of products, including tubing, specialised filling systems and products for single‑use applications.
Watson‑Marlow is part of Spirax Group, a FTSE100 and FTSE4Good multi‑national industrial engineering Group with expertise in the control and management of steam, electric thermal solutions, peristaltic pumping and associated fluid technologies.
Our purpose is to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders as we engineer a more efficient, safer and sustainable world. Our technologies play an essential role in critical industrial processes and industrial equipment across industries as diverse as Food & Beverage, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology, Power Generation, Semiconductors and Healthcare. With customers in 165 countries, we provide the solutions that sit behind the production of many items used in daily life, from baked beans to mobile phones!
Our inclusive culture and values, unites us, guides our decisions and inspires us everywhere that we operate. We support our colleagues to make their difference for each other as well as customers, communities, suppliers, our planet and shareholders by creating a truly equitable working environment where everyone feels included.