Buyer

Description

What You’ll Do:

• Own end-to-end procurement for assigned categories (e.g., lab consumables, test materials, prototypes, indirect services, and capital equipment), from requisition to PO and receipt.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure all ad-hoc procurement needs for R&D and operations are executed on time, within budget, and in line with quality and compliance expectations.
• Manage day-to-day supplier relationships, coordinating delivery schedules, resolving issues, and driving on-time, in-full performance.
• Update and maintain accurate master data in MISys (items, BOMs, suppliers, jobs, locations) to reflect current designs, routing, and purchasing requirements.
• Support receiving and inventory management activities in the warehouse, including troubleshooting any purchasing or inventory-related discrepancies.

• Execute strategic and tactical procurement for indirect and direct categories, including professional services, production and lab supplies, test materials, prototypes, machinery, and transportation services.
• Solicit, evaluate, and analyze supplier quotations; lead price, lead time, and commercial term negotiations to achieve total cost and value targets.
• Advise internal customers on procurement strategies and constraints, providing guidance at all stages of the procurement cycle from requisition through PO close.
• Partner closely with R&D, engineering, manufacturing operations, facilities, and maintenance to translate technical and project requirements into clear purchasing specifications.
• Monitor and report on cost performance against budget for assigned categories, highlighting risks and opportunities.
• Identify areas for improvement to continuously drive reductions in standard costs and meet Purchase Price Variance (PPV) targets annually.
• Provide regular forecasts and purchase orders for production materials to ensure material availability to support the production schedule.

• Work with supply chain leadership to build and maintain a robust portfolio of qualified suppliers across key categories.
• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers to ensure high quality, reliable lead times, and competitive pricing.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to assess the impact of supplier process or material changes and generate the appropriate internal change order paperwork to implement.
• Maintain supplier records and document communication in the CRM.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews, track KPIs (on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness), and drive corrective actions when performance gaps arise.

• Ensure accurate data input into project management, ERP, and supply chain tools, including correct coding, lead times, and purchasing parameters.
• Monitor and update ERP/MRP master data so it consistently reflects Vital’s manufacturing processes, approved suppliers, and current BOM structures.
• Input and maintain new part numbers and BOMs in the ERP/MRP system following engineering change orders or new product introductions.
• Ensure supply-chain-related documentation is stored, organized, and retained in an audit-ready manner.
• Track and archive supplier change notifications and initiate internal change control workflows as needed to maintain GMP and quality system compliance.
• Partner with QA/QC to manage supplier changes, ensuring they are properly risk-assessed, documented, and implemented across the supply chain.
• Support backflushing, inventory reconciliation, and other system-driven processes to keep inventory accurate.

• Identify opportunities to improve procurement processes, both within the ERP/MRP system and in surrounding workflows.
• Contribute to standard operating procedures and best practices that scale the procurement function as the company grows.

What You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, business, finance, supply chain, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2–4 years of experience in purchasing, buying, or supply chain operations, ideally in a manufacturing or regulated environment.
• Solid understanding of procurement and sourcing fundamentals and basic cost and lead time drivers.
• Experience with ERP/MRP or manufacturing systems (e.g., MISys or similar) and comfort working with structured data.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess trade-offs across cost, quality, and lead time.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (especially Excel) and comfort handling and manipulating data from spreadsheets or ERP systems.

• Experience in medical device, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, or other regulated industries.
• Familiarity with quality systems, supplier qualification, and regulatory requirements for hardware and chemicals.
• Experience with international sourcing, customs, and import/export documentation.
• A track record of implementing or improving purchasing or inventory processes.
• An appreciation of puns and a sense of humor that makes collaboration more fun.

Why Join Us?

• Support the procurement engine that powers groundbreaking diagnostics and real-time patient care.
• You will join a collaborative, ambitious team that values respect, dependability, and ownership, and you will see your work directly impact product availability and operational readiness.
• You will grow your career through exposure to cutting-edge technology, cross-functional projects, and a mission-driven environment focused on transforming healthcare.