Buyer in Fenton, Missouri at Sim Surgical

The Buyer oversees all procurement and materials management operations to ensure the uninterrupted flow of components, raw materials, and finished goods for medical device manufacturing. This role ensures supplier compliance with FDA QSR (21 CFR Part 820) and ISO 13485 requirements, drives cost savings through strategic sourcing to support production efficiency and on-time delivery. The Buyer partners closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Accounting to align purchasing and logistics strategies with company objectives and regulatory requirements, while working collaboratively with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice, pricing, and receipt discrepancies and ensure timely vendor payments.

Responsibilities:

• Manage daily plant/purchasing operations including requisition review, purchase order (PO) creation, order tracking, and expediting
• Maintain accurate inventory records in the ERP system; ensure raw materials and components goods are available to meet production schedules.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers to achieve cost reduction goals while maintaining quality and service levels.
• Monitor supplier performance through key metrics (on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness) and initiate supplier corrective actions when necessary.
• Collaborate with Quality, Supply Chain, and Purchasing departments to support supplier audits and qualification activities.
• Evaluate freight carriers and negotiate rates to optimize cost and service. Oversee handling and disposal of returned goods in accordance with company policy and regulatory requirements.
• Support new product introductions (NPI) by coordinating material sourcing and ensuring supplier readiness.
• Maintain compliance with ISO 13485, FDA QSR, and internal quality system requirements across all purchasing and logistics functions.
• Assist with other site or plant activities.
• Maintains data entry of suppliers in ERP system

Requirements:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
• 2-5 years in purchasing, logistics, or supply chain roles; at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead capacity within a regulated manufacturing environment (medical device preferred).
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems for purchasing, inventory, and planning (e.g., Sage, Epicor, SAP, or similar).
• Working knowledge of ISO 13485, FDA QSR, and GMP requirements.
• Strong understanding of purchasing and inventory control principles, lead time management, and supplier development.
• Excellent negotiation, organizational, and communication skills; proven ability to multitask, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with import/export compliance and logistics coordination preferred.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Frequent standing, walking, and use of hands to handle paperwork, materials, or operate warehouse equipment.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 40 lbs intermittently.
• Visual acuity for reading shipping labels, part numbers, and documentation.
• Exposure to warehouse and manufacturing environments with moderate noise levels; PPE required in designated areas.