Senior Buyer

Key Responsibilities

1. Demand Forecasting & Analytics

• Build and maintain rolling 12-month demand forecasts using historical data, market trends, and seasonal variables.

• Lead the procurement portion of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) to align purchasing with production/sales targets. • Perform regular deep-dive spend analyses to identify cost-saving opportunities and high-risk categories.

• Utilize ERP data to set and adjust safety stock levels and reorder points based on lead-time volatility.

2. Strategic Sourcing & Rush Management

• Identify and vet new suppliers to ensure a competitive and diverse supply base.

• Develop a dual-source supplier base to mitigate risks and ensure business continuity during sudden market shifts.

• Rapidly execute emergency procurement by leveraging pre-established framework agreements to shorten lead times by 50–80%.

• Manage high-value supplier relationships and lead complex negotiations for favorable pricing and service-level agreements (SLAs).

3. Operational Excellence

• Oversee the end-to-end P2P (Procure-to-Pay) process, ensuring compliance with internal policies and financial budgets.

• Proactively track and expedite high-priority orders, coordinating with logistics to bypass supply chain bottlenecks.

• Monitor vendor performance through KPIs (quality, on-time delivery, and cost) and conduct regular audits.

4. Mentorship:

• Supervise and train junior buyers to improve team capability and ensure compliance with procurement policies.

Desired Experience & Background Industry Background:

• Must-Have: 5+ years of experience in procurement or supply chain management in high-velocity industries such as Manufacturing, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), or E-Commerce/Retail.

• Experienced in managing Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory and highly volatile supply chain environments is advantageous. Technical Skills: • ERP Mastery: Proficiency in ERP, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.

• Data Visualization: Advanced Excel (Power Query/Pivot Tables) and experience with Power BI or Tableau.

• Forecasting Tools: Familiarity with AI-driven planning platforms is a significant plus.

Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field.

• Professional certifications such as CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) or CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) are highly desirable. Core Competencies

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to synthesize large datasets into actionable buying strategies.

• Resilience: Remains calm, decisive, and professional when managing urgent, high-stakes requests.

• Negotiation: A strategic negotiator who can create value even in low-leverage emergency situations