Senior Buyer

Job Title: Senior Buyer Job Description
The Senior Buyer is responsible for end-to-end procurement and supply management of direct materials, including ingredients and packaging, to support manufacturing operations. This role owns day-to-day supplier execution and material availability for assigned categories, ensuring uninterrupted supply through effective inventory management, purchasing execution, supplier relationship management, and proactive risk mitigation. The Senior Buyer collaborates closely with Planning, Operations, Quality, R&D, and Finance to ensure materials are available at the right quality, quantity, cost, and timing, while identifying cost savings opportunities, supporting commercial negotiations, driving supplier performance improvements, executing procurement strategies, and managing inventory.
Responsibilities
- Manage the end-to-end procurement process for assigned ingredients and packaging materials to support manufacturing operations.
- Create, maintain, and manage purchase orders from issuance through receipt and invoice resolution, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Monitor supplier confirmations, delivery commitments, and order status to ensure continuity of supply and timely deliveries.
- Resolve purchasing, delivery, and supplier-related issues promptly to minimize impact on production schedules.
- Ensure purchasing transactions and supplier information are accurate and up to date within ERP systems.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders to align purchasing activities with production requirements and demand plans.
- Analyze inventory levels, forecasts, consumption trends, lead times, and supplier constraints to determine purchasing requirements.
- Balance inventory investment, service levels, shelf-life considerations, storage capacity, and operational needs to optimize inventory performance.
- Proactively identify supply risks, shortages, and potential disruptions and develop practical mitigation plans.
- Monitor inventory health and support initiatives to reduce excess and obsolete inventory while maintaining service levels.
- Ensure materials are available to support production schedules and customer demand without interruption.
- Escalate material risks and coordinate recovery plans when supply disruptions occur.
- Act as the primary day-to-day operational and commercial contact for assigned suppliers.
- Maintain strong supplier relationships to support service, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
- Monitor supplier performance and drive corrective actions when performance expectations are not met.
- Lead and support negotiations related to pricing, lead times, service levels, minimum order quantities, and operational performance.
- Participate in supplier business reviews and performance improvement initiatives.
- Identify and implement cost savings, cost avoidance, and process improvement opportunities across assigned categories.
- Support the execution of sourcing initiatives and supplier transitions to improve cost, quality, and service.
- Analyze pricing proposals and develop cost comparisons to support procurement recommendations and decision-making.
- Manage working capital improvement initiatives through inventory optimization and disciplined purchasing practices.
- Participate in cross-functional projects involving supplier changes, new product launches, packaging changes, and operational improvements.
- Partner with Planning to align procurement activities with demand forecasts and production schedules.
- Collaborate with Operations, Quality, R&D, and Finance to resolve supply, quality, and service issues.
- Support new product introductions, reformulations, packaging changes, and supplier qualification activities.
- Coordinate with Finance to resolve invoice discrepancies, pricing issues, and supplier account matters.
- Perform accurate data entry and maintain procurement-related records and reports using ERP systems and Excel.
Essential Skills
- 46 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or materials management within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience purchasing direct materials such as ingredients, packaging, raw materials, or production components.
- Experience managing supplier relationships and supporting manufacturing operations.
- Experience working with ERP systems and inventory management processes.
- Strong understanding of procurement, inventory management, and supply chain principles.
- Ability to analyze inventory levels, consumption trends, lead times, and purchasing requirements.
- Strong supplier relationship management and communication skills.
- Ability to identify supply risks and develop practical mitigation plans.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and procurement-related reporting tools.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a strong sense of ownership.
- Working knowledge of cost analysis, supplier performance management, and procurement best practices.
- Experience with ERP systems such as VAI, SAP, or Oracle.
- Experience with purchasing processes, purchase orders, and supply chain operations.
- Proficiency in data entry and maintaining accurate procurement records.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
- Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
- Experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing environments is preferred.
- Familiarity with sourcing and analytics tools such as RFx platforms and spend analytics systems.
- Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities for procurement and inventory reporting.
- Strong negotiation skills related to pricing, lead times, service levels, and minimum order quantities.
- Ability to contribute to cross-functional projects involving supplier changes, new product launches, packaging changes, and operational improvements.
Work Environment
This role operates within a fast-paced manufacturing environment that requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams such as Planning, Operations, Quality, R&D, and Finance. The Senior Buyer works extensively with ERP systems (e.g., VAI, SAP, Oracle), RFx and spend analytics tools, and advanced Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting. The selection process includes one round of in-person interviewing with key stakeholders in the purchasing function. The work involves a mix of office-based tasks, system work, and regular interaction with internal teams and external suppliers to support reliable, cost-effective material supply.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wyandanch, NY.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.87 - $43.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wyandanch, NY.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Wyandanch,NY.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.