Senior Buyer

Job Description- Senior Buyer

Pre-employment requirements- pass drug test, background, EVerify-Green Card Holder or US Citizen only.

Employment Status: Exempt-Full-Time-
Location: Escondido, California- In Person
Schedule: 8-hour shift-unless a project has other requirements
Salary Range: $85,000–$105,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications

Job Summary

The Senior Buyer is responsible for purchasing materials, capital equipment, supplies, and services necessary to support company operations in a fast-paced metal fabrication and manufacturing environment. This position requires strong supplier management, negotiation, analytical, and organizational skills to ensure materials and services are procured at competitive prices, meet quality standards, and are delivered according to production schedules.

The Senior Buyer works closely with suppliers and internal and external departments, including Engineering, Shop Operations, Accounting, and Purchasing, to maintain efficient procurement processes, control costs, manage inventory, and support overall business objectives. The successful candidate must be detail-oriented, proactive, and capable of managing multiple purchasing priorities while maintaining accurate records and compliance with company policies and quality standards.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

Purchasing and Procurement

1. Review job requirement reports daily and procures all required materials, components, supplies, and services to meet production and operational needs.
2. Prepare, process, and maintain purchase orders, including accurate computer data entry in Freeberg's production planning and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
3. Source, evaluate, and qualify suppliers based on pricing, quality, delivery performance, reliability, and service.
4. Review, compare, and negotiate vendor quotations to identify the most suitable suppliers and achieve competitive pricing and favorable commercial terms.
5. Purchase materials, capital expenditures, equipment, and supplies in accordance with company requirements and approved purchasing procedures.
6. Monitor open purchase orders and delivery schedules, proactively resolving shortages, delays, and discrepancies that may affect production.
7. Identify cost-saving opportunities, alternative suppliers, and improvements to procurement processes.
8. Reports to Production Manager

Technical and Manufacturing Support

1. Read and interpret engineering drawings, applicable standards, and design specifications to determine material and purchasing requirements.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of materials, components, equipment, and supplies used in metal fabrication and manufacturing.
3. Coordinate with Engineering and Shop Operations to clarify technical requirements, material specifications, substitutions, and production priorities.
4. Ensure purchased materials and services meet applicable specifications, quality requirements, and delivery expectations.

Supplier and Performance Management

1. Establish and maintain effective relationships with vendors through telephone, email, written correspondence, and in-person communication.
2. Monitor supplier quality, on-time delivery, responsiveness, and overall performance.
3. Address supplier-related quality issues, delivery delays, pricing discrepancies, and other purchasing concerns.
4. Maintain accurate supplier records and purchasing documentation.
5. Collect, analyze, and summarize purchasing data, supplier performance metrics, cost trends, and other relevant information to support decision-making.

Inventory and Accounting Support

1. Participate in month-end inventory counts, adjustments, and reconciliation activities.
2. Assist Accounting in resolving invoice discrepancies, credit memo issues, purchase order variances, and supplier billing questions.
3. Coordinate with Accounting and other departments to ensure purchasing transactions are accurate and properly documented.
4. Support inventory control efforts to minimize material shortages, excess inventory, and unnecessary purchasing costs.

Quality, Safety, and Compliance

1. Follow purchasing policies and procedures established in the company's Quality Manual.
2. Comply with the company's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), Quality Management System (QMS), and applicable ISO quality management requirements.
3. Maintain accurate records and documentation to support quality assurance, internal controls, and audits.
4. Support continuous improvement initiatives related to purchasing efficiency, supplier performance, safety, and product quality.
5. Perform other purchasing and supply chain duties as assigned by the Purchasing Manager.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, or Supply Chain Management, or Purchasing, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five to eight years of purchasing or procurement experience in a metal fabrication or manufacturing business.
• Strong knowledge of materials, equipment, components, and supplies commonly used in metal fabrication.
• Experience with manufacturing resource planning (MRP), ERP, or purchasing systems, preferably E2 or a comparable platform.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated experience reviewing vendor quotations, negotiating prices, managing suppliers, and coordinating material requirements.
• Understanding inventory management, purchase order processing, and supplier delivery performance.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of manufacturing purchasing experience.
• Experience in metal fabrication, machining, industrial manufacturing, or related industries.
• Familiarity with engineering drawings, material specifications, and manufacturing standards.
• Experience with ISO 9001 quality management systems and purchasing documentation.
• Experience with cost-reduction initiatives, supplier development, and procurement performance reporting.

Abilities and Physical Requirements

• Demonstrate accurate data entry and attention to detail.
• Apply organizational skills, sound judgment, and effective problem-solving techniques.
• Manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Work effectively with suppliers, management, and cross-functional teams.
• Perform business mathematics, including pricing comparisons, cost calculations, and inventory reconciliations.
• Read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Sit at a desk and use a computer for extended periods.
• Safely lift, carry, push, and/or pull materials weighing up to 35 pounds, as required by the position and with reasonable accommodation where applicable.

 Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $85,000–$105,000 annually, depending on relevant experience, qualifications, technical knowledge, and demonstrated purchasing expertise.

Additional compensation may include bonus opportunities based on company policy, individual performance, or other applicable criteria.

Benefits

Eligible employees may receive the following benefits, subject to the company's plan terms and eligibility requirements:

• 401(k) retirement plan
• Dental – Vision insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Health insurance
• Health savings account (HSA), subject to plan eligibility
• Life insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Parental leave

Work Schedule and Location

• Full-time employment
• Eight-hour shift-or longer based on projects
• In-person work at the company's Escondido, California location

Background Screening and References

Employment is contingent upon successfully completing the company's applicable social security number verification, EVerify, background screening and drug testing requirements, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Professional references must be provided as part of the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The company is an equal opportunity employer and complies with applicable federal, California, and local employment laws.

Job Description Acknowledgment

This job description describes the primary responsibilities, qualifications, and physical requirements of the Senior Buyer position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties. Responsibilities may be modified to meet changing business needs.

The employee must be able to perform all the essential functions of the position.

• Exempt classification: Verify that the position meets California's applicable salary and duties tests for exempt status.
• Background checks and drug testing: Pre-employment requirements- pass drug screening, background check, and EVerify must be a Green Card Holder or US Citizen, Social Security number verified.

Work Environment

This position operates primarily in an office environment adjacent to the production floor, with regular visits to Receiving, the shop floor, and occasional supplier facilities. Frequent interaction with Production Control, Engineering, Quality, and suppliers is required. Standard business hours apply, with occasional extended hours to expedite critical materials. Physical demands are typical of an office/light manufacturing environment, including walking the production floor and occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds.

Freeberg Industrial Fabrication Corp. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Check our website www.freeberg.com
an H&S company!!