Senior Buyer / Head of Purchasing / Sourcing Strategist at Innotec – Zeeland, Michigan

Position Summary

The Senior Buyer / Head of Purchasing / Sourcing Strategist is responsible for leading the organization’s sourcing, supplier management, and purchasing strategy across a diverse manufacturing environment including LED lighting, plastic injection molding, and metal tube bending for automotive applications.

This role goes beyond transactional purchasing. It is a strategic leadership position that ensures material availability, cost competitiveness, supplier performance, and long-term supply chain resilience. The role directly impacts profitability, production continuity, and customer satisfaction by aligning sourcing decisions with business objectives.

Purpose of the Role

To ensure the organization consistently has the right materials, from the right suppliers, at the right cost, at the right time, while building a supply base that supports quality, innovation, and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Development

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies across key commodities (resins, electronics, metals, components)
• Identify, qualify, and develop high-performing suppliers domestically and globally
• Lead supplier negotiations, contracts, and long-term agreements
• Drive dual sourcing and risk mitigation strategies

Cost Management & Value Engineering

• Lead cost reduction initiatives through negotiation, design collaboration, and process improvement
• Partner with engineering on value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) efforts
• Monitor market trends (commodities, resins, electronics) and adjust strategies accordingly

Operational Purchasing Execution

• Oversee purchasing processes including PO placement, order tracking, and supplier communication
• Ensure alignment between demand planning, production schedules, and material supply
• Resolve supply disruptions quickly and effectively

Supplier Performance Management

• Establish and monitor supplier KPIs (quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness)
• Lead supplier reviews and corrective action processes
• Build strong, professional relationships with key suppliers

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Finance
• Support new product launches with sourcing strategy and supplier readiness
• Act as a key contributor in S&OP / production planning discussions

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop buyers/planners (if team structure exists)
• Establish standard work, best practices, and accountability systems

Key Processes Owned or Led

• Strategic sourcing & supplier selection
• Supplier on-boarding & qualification
• Purchase order management & fulfillment tracking
• Cost reduction / VA-VE initiatives
• Supplier performance management & scorecards
• Supply risk assessment & mitigation planning
• New product sourcing & launch support

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Material cost savings (% and $ impact)
• Supplier on-time delivery performance
• Supplier quality (PPM, defects)
• Inventory turns / working capital impact
• Purchase price variance (PPV)
• Supplier lead time reduction
• Supply disruption frequency and recovery time

Key Interfaces

• Engineering (product design, material selection)
• Production / Operations (schedule alignment, shortages)
• Quality (supplier quality performance, audits)
• Finance (cost tracking, budgeting, cash flow)
• Sales / Program Management (new product launches, customer requirements)
• External suppliers and vendors

Leadership Expectations

• Think strategically while acting operationally
• Drive accountability with data and clear expectations
• Communicate in an Adult-to-Adult, solution-oriented manner
• Lead through influence, not just authority
• Balance cost, quality, and delivery without compromise

Core Values Demonstrated in the Role

• Ownership and accountability
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Integrity in supplier relationships
• Fact-based decision making
• Collaboration across functions

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to ensuring the business can deliver on its commitments to customers while maintaining strong financial performance. The right leader in this position will shape the supply chain into a competitive advantage, driving reliability, cost efficiency, and scalability.

Opportunity for Growth

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Influence company-wide strategy
• Build and shape the supplier network
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives
• Grow into broader operational or executive leadership roles

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of purchasing/sourcing experience in manufacturing
• Experience in one or more of the following:
  • Plastic injection molding
  • Electronics / LED components
  • Metal fabrication / tube bending
  • Automotive or Tier 1 / Tier 2 supply chains
• Strong negotiation and supplier management experience
• Proven track record of cost savings and supplier development

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading or mentoring a purchasing team
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems
• APICS / CPSM or similar certification
• Experience working with global suppliers

Personal Attributes

• Highly proactive and results-driven
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Comfortable making decisions in fast-paced environments
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder
• Able to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day execution