Job Description: Senior Buyer

Department: Operations / Supply Chain Reports To: Vice President of Operations Classification: Full-Time | Exempt

Salary Range: $80K-$110 DOE (annual)

Core Purpose

The Senior Buyer owns Harbor Fab's procurement strategy and execution, personally performing hands-on buying while leading additional buyer(s), to ensure the right materials, products, and services are purchased at the right quality, from the right supplier, at the right time, and at the lowest total cost of ownership.

This position combines individual procurement responsibility with team leadership: developing strategic supplier partnerships, improving purchasing processes, reducing material costs, protecting production schedules, and maximizing profitability across all Harbor Fab facilities, while directing and developing the Buyer role.

Business Impact

The Senior Buyer is responsible for one of Harbor Fab's largest operating expenses — direct materials and purchased services — both through their own purchasing activity and by directing the work of the Buyer(s). This role directly impacts gross margin, cash flow, inventory investment, production efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Annual Objective

Develop and execute a strategic sourcing and procurement plan — carried out personally and through the Buyer on this team — that delivers a minimum best landed cost in material and purchased service costs while maintaining or improving supplier quality, inventory performance, production continuity, and customer service.

Major Functions

Procurement Management (Hands-On Buying)

• Personally purchase an assigned portfolio of direct and indirect materials.
• Purchase subcontracted services and consumables.
• Ensure uninterrupted material availability.
• Maintain purchasing policies and procedures.

Team Leadership

• Lead, train, and develop the Buyer(s).
• Assign and prioritize purchasing workload across the team.
• Review the Buyer's purchase orders, pricing, and supplier decisions.
• Ensure team-wide adherence to purchasing policies and procedures.
• Serve as the escalation point for supplier and purchasing issues.

Supplier Management

• Develop strategic supplier relationships.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and payment terms.
• Measure supplier performance.
• Qualify new suppliers and manage corrective actions.

Cost Management

• Reduce material costs.
• Conduct competitive bidding.
• Support annual budgeting and gross margin improvement.

Inventory & Planning

• Support Production Planning.
• Optimize inventory investment.
• Prevents material shortages.

Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain purchasing SOPs.
• Improve ERP purchasing accuracy.
• Develop supplier scorecards and procurement KPIs.

GWC

Gets It

• Understands manufacturing procurement.
• Thinks strategically.
• Uses data to drive decisions.

Wants It

• Takes ownership.
• Enjoys negotiation.
• Pursues continuous improvement.

Capacity

• Manages multiple priorities while staying hands-on in the buying process.
• Builds supplier relationships.
• Leads and develops direct report(s).
• Communicates effectively.

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of purchasing or supply chain experience in manufacturing.
• Experience negotiating supplier agreements.
• Strong analytical and financial skills.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.

Preferred

• Prior experience leading, training, or mentoring buyers or junior purchasing staff.
• Structural steel or miscellaneous metals experience.
• Knowledge of steel mills, service centers and industrial consumables.
• APICS, CPSM, CSCP, or comparable certification.

Definition of Success

The Senior Buyer creates a competitive advantage by ensuring Harbor Fab consistently acquires the highest-value materials and services at the lowest total cost of ownership — both through their own purchasing and through the Buyer(s) they lead. Success is demonstrated through measurable cost reductions, outstanding supplier performance, reliable material availability, and optimized inventory investment. A well-developed Sr. Buyer will assist with strong gross margin and cash flow performance.