Strategic Buyer

Bauer Compressors, Inc.; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Bauer Compressors, Inc. is seeking a Strategic Buyer in Norfolk, VA to lead strategic sourcing and supplier relationships in support of manufacturing operations.

The role focuses on developing sourcing strategies, negotiating agreements, and managing direct and indirect spend to ensure material availability and cost efficiency across production lines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred; 5+ years purchasing/procurement experience.
• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.
• Manufacturing environment experience; ERP/MRP and Excel proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing strategies for direct and indirect spend; research suppliers and RFQs.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, service levels, and contracts with suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance; resolve quality, delivery, or cost issues with vendors.
• Collaborate with Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Operations to ensure supply continuity.

Skills

Negotiation

Vendor relationships

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

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

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Strategic Buyer is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing production materials, components, goods, and services that support BAUER's manufacturing and business operations. The role manages assigned direct material and indirect spend categories, which may include raw materials, fabricated and purchased components, facilities, maintenance, utilities, information technology, professional services, office operations, safety, logistics support, and capital projects.

Working closely with Supply Chain, Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and department leaders across the organization, the Strategic Buyer develops sourcing strategies, negotiates supplier agreements, manages supplier relationships, and identifies opportunities to improve cost, quality, delivery, service, and operational efficiency. This position plays an important role in ensuring continuity of supply and availability of the materials and resources needed to support production and business operations while advancing the company's financial and operational objectives.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Include the following, but other duties may be assigned.

Strategic Sourcing

• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned direct material and indirect spend categories.


• Research and evaluate potential suppliers.


• Prepare and manage requests for quotations (RFQs), proposals (RFPs), and competitive bids.


• Negotiate pricing, terms, service levels, and commercial agreements.


• Identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining quality and service.


• Monitor market conditions and recommend alternative sourcing strategies when appropriate.


• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for production materials and components, including new product requirements, supplier transitions, and alternate sources of supply.


• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Planning, and Manufacturing to evaluate supplier capabilities, technical requirements, quality expectations, lead times, and total cost.


• Identify and mitigate supply risks, including long lead times, capacity constraints, single-source dependencies, tariffs, and other market or geopolitical factors.


• Purchase assigned production materials, components, indirect goods, and services required to support manufacturing and business operations.


• Build and maintain productive relationships with suppliers and service providers.


• Evaluate supplier performance and work with vendors to resolve quality, delivery, or service issues.


• Support supplier onboarding and ongoing performance reviews.


• Maintain preferred supplier relationships where appropriate.


• Monitor supplier delivery, quality, lead time, capacity, and commercial performance for assigned materials and categories.


• Coordinate with Planning and Operations to address shortages, past-due materials, supplier constraints, and other issues that may affect production continuity.


• Support supplier qualification, development, corrective actions, and source changes in partnership with Quality and Engineering.

Contract & Spend Management

• Coordinate service agreements and contract renewals.


• Maintain purchasing records, supplier documentation, and contract files.


• Review purchasing activity for compliance with company policies and approved spending limits.


• Assist departments in planning recurring service and purchasing needs.


• Analyze spending trends and identify opportunities for consolidation or standardization.


• Analyze material spend, price variances, supplier concentration, and total cost to identify sourcing and cost-reduction opportunities.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner with Supply Chain, Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Facilities, Operations, Finance, HR, IT, Safety, and other departments to understand material and purchasing needs.


• Recommend sourcing solutions that balance cost, quality, lead time, and business risk.


• Support capital equipment purchases and facility improvement projects as assigned.


• Participate in cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.


• Prepare purchasing reports and spend analyses.


• Track cost savings and procurement initiatives.


• Monitor purchase price variance, supplier performance, material availability, and other procurement KPIs for assigned categories.


• Support budget planning by providing purchasing forecasts and spending data.


• Recommend improvements to procurement processes, supplier performance, and purchasing controls.

Typical Purchasing Categories

This position may procure production materials, components, goods, and services including:

• Packaging and other materials required to support production and shipment


• OEM and supplier-provided production parts and assemblies


• Fabricated, machined, electrical, mechanical, and other purchased components


• Raw materials and production consumables


• Facilities maintenance and repairs


• Utilities and waste services


• Office furniture and supplies


• Information technology hardware, software, and services


• Professional and consulting services


• Uniforms and personal protective equipment


• Fleet and transportation services


• Freight and logistics support


• Capital equipment and facility projects


• Other direct and indirect goods and services that support manufacturing and business operations

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Successful candidates demonstrate the ability to:

• Build productive relationships with internal customers and suppliers.


• Negotiate effectively while maintaining positive vendor partnerships.


• Analyze pricing, contracts, and supplier proposals.


• Prioritize multiple projects and competing deadlines.


• Exercise sound business judgment and make data-driven recommendations.


• Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.


• Work independently while collaborating across departments.


• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes and reduce costs.


• Maintain a high degree of integrity when managing company expenditures.


• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Operations, or a related field preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.


• Five or more years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience.


• Experience negotiating with suppliers and managing vendor relationships.


• Experience working in a manufacturing environment and purchasing production materials/components strongly preferred.


• Experience using ERP/MRP systems.


• Understanding of material requirements planning, inventory, lead times, supplier capacity, and production supply continuity.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

VALUED BUT NOT REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)


• APICS/ASCM certification


• Experience with strategic sourcing initiatives


• Experience sourcing direct materials, production components, or engineered-to-order/manufactured products


• Experience managing service contracts

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, use close vision, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, reach with hands and arms, listen, and communicate verbally. The employee may be required to speak on the telephone while simultaneously taking notes.

Occasionally, the employee may need to lift or move items weighing up to 30 pounds or request assistance for heavier items. When walking through the manufacturing facility, the employee must wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including eye protection. The noise level in certain areas may exceed normal thresholds.

This is a full-time position. The normal work schedule is 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with some flexibility in start and end times based on business needs.

GENERAL SIGN-OFF

The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to policies.
I have read and understand this explanation and job description. I have read and understand this explanation and job description.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.