Senior Supply Chain & Purchasing Specialist

Our biomedical client is looking for a Senior Supply Chain/Purchasing Specialist to join our purchasing department on-site in our Waltham, MA facility to be responsible for the procurement and reporting activities of all purchased material for a complex category of commodities at the optimum cost and best in case level of service needed to support the timely manufacturing and distribution of quality products to customers. This position is expected to seek significant cost saving as well as for developing and implementing strategies to improve overall inventory performance. More specific responsibilities include:

• Ensuring compliance with all purchasing procedures and policies.
• Scheduling and placing purchase orders with suppliers based on MRP requirements and order policies while managing inventory to required levels.
• Developing supplier relationships and establishing delivery methods to support Kanban inventory and lean manufacturing techniques in an effort to drive inventory levels to a minimum.
• Overseeing the purchasing process to ensure on-time delivery and following up with suppliers to resolve material shortages resulting from shipping delays.
• Soliciting and evaluating proposals involving complex pricing analysis. Negotiating high dollar contracts where applicable and evaluating supplier performance to secure a consistent quality product at competitive prices.
• Working with Distribution and Supplier Quality to resolve purchase order receiving issues and returns of MRB and NCMR material to suppliers and finance to resolve supplier invoicing issues.
• Seeking out new suppliers and working to develop long term supplier relationships.
• Working with Engineering on sourcing of new components and implementation of product revisions (ECOs) with suppliers.
• Working with planning to ensure material availability supports MPS product schedules.
• Monitoring and measuring key supplier delivery performance.
• Participating in supplier management review meetings.
• Maintaining accurate planning parameters in MRP such as item master, lead-times, order policy, etc.
• Sending open purchase order report to key suppliers at a minimum on a monthly basis and reconcile any disconnects in information.
• Analyzing purchased inventory profiles such as lot size criteria, ordering rules, ordering patterns, inventory replenishment methods, inventory turns, slow moving inventory, and developing and implementing strategies to improve overall performance.
• Helping with cross training of purchasing department personnel.
• Representing purchasing group on various cross-functional process improvement teams.
• Participating in our Quality Assurance Group and TUV audits of the purchasing department as necessary.
• Maintaining awareness of industry trends and practices.

Qualifications/Skills and Competencies:

• Strong communication skills, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Excellent computer application skills with strong emphasis on Excel.
• Very strong intuitive and decision-making skills.
• Ability to lead and direct day-to-day activities of less experienced supply chain specialists,

Education/Experience:

• BS in Supply Chain, Business or other applicable discipline.
• 7 years manufacturing purchasing and inventory management experience.
• Chemical procurement and/or Medical Device experience a plus.
• Experience with MRP (SAP preferred) and purchasing management systems.