Senior Buyer - Vienna, United States - Zippia

Description

What is a senior buyer and how to become one

Updated March 14, 2024

3 min read
A senior buyer oversees purchasing activities for a company or organization.

They work with suppliers to negotiate contracts, analyze market trends, and make purchasing decisions that align with the company's budget.

Senior buyers also manage a team of buyers, develop procurement strategies, and ensure that all purchases are made in compliance with company policies and regulations.

Strong analytical skills , negotiation abilities, and knowledge of supply chain management are essential for success in this role.
How long does it takes to become a senior buyer?

It takes typically 8 to 10 years to become a senior buyer.
Year 5-9: Gain 4-6 years of work experience.

Year 10:
Achieve the senior buyer position.
Exposure to international markets and suppliers
Opportunity to work with cross-functional teams
Flexibility in work schedule and location
The satisfaction of contributing to company success
Cons
Need to constantly stay updated on market trends and supplier capabilities
Constant need to manage relationships with suppliers and stakeholders
High turnover rate due to stress and burnout
Limited work-life balance during peak periods.
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How to become a senior buyer in 7 steps:


Step 1:
Explore Education

Step 2:
Develop Skills

Step 3:
Complete Relevant Training

Step 4:
Research Duties

Step 5:
Get Experience

Step 6:
Prepare Your Resume

Step 7:
Apply For Jobs
Senior Buyer career paths

A senior buyer can take different career paths, some of them being a purchasing manager or a senior purchasing manager.

They can also become a material manager or a senior sourcing manager. They can also become a material manager or a materials director. They can become a purchasing manager, a category manager, or a senior category manager.

They can also become a supply chain manager, a global supply chain manager, a global procurement manager, or a senior manager, procurement.

They can also become a project procurement manager.
Planner/Buyer
Avg Salary $54,261
Buyer
Avg Salary $54,049
Purchasing Agent
Avg Salary $51,950
Senior Planner
Avg Salary $73,327
Supply Chain Analyst
Avg Salary $67,450
Procurement Agent
Avg Salary $72,384
Contracts Administrator
Avg Salary $52,876
Master Scheduler
Avg Salary $77,733
Avg Salary $49,586
Production Planner
Avg Salary $60,390
Show More
Senior Buyer
9 years
Purchasing Manager
Avg Salary $98,118
Material Manager
Avg Salary $96,125
Supply Manager
Avg Salary $96,971
Senior Manager, Procurement
Avg Salary $121,433
Avg Salary $127,061
Avg Salary $113,769
Senior Sourcing Manager
Avg Salary $113,406
Supply Chain Manager
Avg Salary $100,414
Director Of Purchasing
Avg Salary $106,945
Senior Purchasing Manager
Avg Salary $109,837
Show More
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Key steps to become a senior buyer

Explore senior buyer education requirements

If you're interested in becoming a senior buyer, you must consider how much education you need. Based on real senior buyer resumes, 70.1% of senior buyers have a bachelor's degree. Regarding higher education levels, 8.9% of senior buyers have master's degrees.

Even though most senior buyers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

Bachelor's
70.1 %
Associate
15.5 %
Master's
8.9 %
Start to develop specific senior buyer skills

A senior buyer's skills include the ability to develop and maintain supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and manage material delivery dates to ensure adherence to manufacturing plans.

They must also have the ability to analyze material cost discrepancies and communicate effectively with supplier management. They can also resolve potential supplier problems while proactively designing recovery strategies. They can monitor inventory and sales data and use these to enhance planning and execution.

They can also support the procurement process by performing daily performance monitoring, change order management, invoice reconciliation, and shortage elimination.

They must be able to coordinate with manufacturing, shipping/receiving, and project management personnel to avoid any adverse production impact from supplier delivery delays.

Skills
Percentages
Supply Chain

16.79%
Purchase Orders

10.83%

MRP
4.18%
Supplier Performance

3.84%
Commodities

3.74%
Show more
Complete relevant senior buyer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior buyers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior buyer resumes.
Research senior buyer duties and responsibilities

Senior buyers manage the entire purchasing process, from developing international/national supplier relationships to negotiating contracts and managing delivery dates. They monitor inventory levels, ensure adherence to quality standards and regulations, and communicate effectively with suppliers and internal stakeholders. They also analyze material costs, track inventory, and evaluate supplier performance for improvement opportunities. They collaborate with manufacturing, shipping/receiving, and project management personnel to avoid production delays and maintain inventory control. They also work closely with suppliers to understand and obtain in-depth knowledge of various aspects of their business.

As one senior buyer puts it, "Negotiated with suppliers to undertake the manufacturing of custom designed items according to complex and rigid specifications and/or delivery schedules.

"
Manage assigned commodities by communicating
MRPchanges and forecasts to minimize excess inventory to achieve optimum inventory levels.
Manage and analyze supplier OTD and keep in constant communication with suppliers to help improve delivery.
Manage ECO process with overseas manufacturing partner.
Lead Made2Manage ERP system development and implementation to improve effectiveness and efficiency of inventory.
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior buyer. The most common roles before becoming a senior buyer include buyer, purchasing manager team lead and purchasing agent.

Prepare your senior buyer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior buyer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder

to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior buyer resume.

You'll find resume tips

and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Senior Buyer Resume templates Build a professional Senior Buyer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Now it's time to start searching for a senior buyer job.

Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Share your story for a free salary report.
Share your experience
Location
Distance
Job Type
Job Level
Education
Date Posted
G
George Washington University
Ashburn, VA
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Procurement Management, Public Health, Research Projects, Negotiation, Cost Estimates, Research, Accounts Payables, Price
2d ago new
$42k-48k yearly est.
L
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Purchase Orders, DOD, Professional Relationships, Supplier Performance, Network Components, Procurement Management, Customer Service, Cost Analysis
1d ago new
$52k-79k yearly est.
P
Pacer Staffing
Naples, FL
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Advises Management, Engineering Changes, Cpm, Management, Evaluates, Purchase Orders, Internal Processes, Educational Workshops
1d ago new
$59k-85k yearly est.
C
Ciresi & Morek
Ohio
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Castings, Leverage, Cost Savings, Suppliers, Power Management, Procurement Management, Sources
6d ago new
$52k-81k yearly est.
Connexus Energy
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Capital Equipment, Cost Savings, Procurement Management, Forecast Accuracy, Purchase Orders, Problem Solving, Operations, Supplier Performance
15d ago
$59k-67k yearly est.
Circor International, Inc.
Corona, CA
Senior Buyer
2d ago new
$70k-87k yearly
ITT, Inc.
Santa Clarita, CA
Senior Buyer

Skills:
VMI, RFQ, Strong Negotiation, Supplier Processes, Portfolio, Negotiation, Spend Analysis, Sources
1d ago new
$90.1k-134.7k yearly
G
Gable Search Group
Irving, TX
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Product Availability, Source Selection, Requirements Data, Critical Command, Supplier Performance, Market Research, Quality Issues, Value Risk
8d ago
$53k-81k yearly est.
P
Texas
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Technical Evaluations, Identify Risks, Issue Resolution, Operations, Supplier Performance, Corrective Action, Internal Stakeholders, Purchase Orders
6d ago new
$55k-82k yearly est.
L
Lids U
Indianapolis, IN
Senior Buyer
6d ago new
$61k-95k yearly est.
Tapco (Traffic and Parking Control Co
Wisconsin
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Materials, ERP, Suppliers, Excellent Time Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Procurement Management
7d ago new
$39k-57k yearly est.
G
The Gill Corporation
Maryland
Senior Buyer, on-site

Skills:
Purchase Orders, ITAR, Operations, Quality Standards, Materials, ERP, Business Administration, Strong Analytical
9d ago
$74k-108k yearly est.
South Dakota
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Multifaceted, Strategic Suppliers, Procurement Management, Teamwork, Construction, Strategic Analysis, Contractual Obligations, Vendor Relationships
7d ago new
$40k-57k yearly est.
S
Search Masters, Inc.
Ohio
International Senior Buyer


Skills:
Cost Savings, Sources

10d ago
$52k-81k yearly est.
H
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Supply Chain, Financial Reports, Price, Business Fields, CPP, Management, Supply Support, Technical Data
6d ago new
$52k-81k yearly est.
Planet Pharma
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Project Management, Manufacturing Support, Suppliers, Demand Management, Procurement Management
7d ago new
$66k-98k yearly est.
California
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Materials Equipment, Material Issues, Supplier Performance, Management, Customers, Purchase Orders, Quotations, On-Time Delivery
7d ago new
$55k-76k yearly est.
Arizona
Senior Buyer
6d ago new
$51k-74k yearly est.
GL Staffing
Florida
Senior Buyer/ Planner
6d ago new
$80k-85k yearly
Executive Alliance
New York
Senior Buyer

Skills:
Commodities, Procurement Management, Export, Time Management, Root-Cause Analysis, Negotiation, Risk Assessments, Government Regulations
The average Senior Buyer salary in the United States is $79,848 per year or $38 per hour. Senior buyer salaries range between $56,000 and $112,000 per year.
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The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life.

Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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