Senior Buyer - Hamilton - SencorpWhite

Description

Senior Buyer - Material Handling
Onsite in Hamilton, Ohio Monday-Friday.
Purpose of the Role:
The Senior Buyer is responsible for sourcing and procuring electro-mechanical components and engineered systems that power automated material handling solutions. This includes panel assemblies, industrial controls, sensors, and precision-machined assemblies. The role partners closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Product Management to ensure supply readiness, cost competitiveness, and high supplier performance to support customer projects.
Key Responsibilities

• Source and manage a strategic commodity portfolio including panels,motors/gearboxes, actuators, power distribution components, drives, PLCs/HMIs, sensors, pneumatics, motion control equipment, and custom mechanical assemblies.
• Work with engineering on new product introductions and customer-specific systems to ensure early supplier involvement, manufacturability, and competitive sourcing.
• Lead supplier selection, qualification, and ongoing performance management utilizing scorecards, audits, and corrective actions aligned with ISO 9001 standards.
• Negotiate pricing, contract terms, and supply agreements that support margin targets, lead-time reduction, and long-term continuity of supply.
• Maintain and monitor critical market trends which may affect lead times and availability
• Support project procurement by securing long-lead items, managing delivery schedules, and coordinating expedited solutions to meet installation milestones.
• Collaborate with Operations and Inventory Control to optimize safety stock,and forecast for high-mix/low-volume and build-to-order production.
• Drive cost-out initiatives through value engineering, competitive sourcing, leveraging volume, and market intelligence.
• Ensure ERP/MRP system accuracy for BOM pricing, supplier data, demand signals, and contract terms.

Qualification requirements
Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5-8+ years procurement experience in automation, industrial equipment, robotics, or material handling integration.
• Strong understanding of electro-mechanical systems and ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, and technical specs.
• Proven negotiation, supplier management, and contract development experience.
• ERP/MRP proficiency and strong analytical capability. (Epicor)

Preferred

• Certifications: CPSM, CPIM, CSCP.
• Global supplier sourcing experience for automation components.
• Familiarity with UL, CE, NFPA 79, and other controls compliance requirements.
• Familiarity with environmental compliance (Reach, RoHs, Prop 65)

Key Competencies

• Strong technical and business acumen.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering and project teams.
• Strategic thinking and supplier relationship leadership.
• Effective prioritization within project-driven deadlines.
• Continuous improvement mindset and root-cause problem solving.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Office and manufacturing/warehouse floor exposure.
• Travel to suppliers and project sites as needed (5-10%)

Core Competencies

• Safety - Observes and enforces safety procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions.
• Quality- Strives to eliminate errors, accurate work is a priority, seeks opportunities to improve a process that is implemented
• Productivity - Manages workload, works efficiently, meets goals and objectives
• Employee Engagement - Passionate about job and company, committed to the company and puts discretionary effort into work