Buyer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Your Role:

The Senior Buyer serves as the primary operational partner and trusted deputy to the Procurement Manager. This role is responsible for strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and end-to-end procurement execution to ensure uninterrupted supply, cost competitiveness, and operational excellence. The Senior Buyer partners closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive continuous improvement, support business growth, and ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements. The position requires the ability to independently manage complex procurement activities while contributing to the long-term procurement strategy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Serve as the Procurement Manager's primary operational partner, providing guidance and support across day-to-day procurement activities.
• Develop key relationships with strategic supply partners to ensure clear communication and build strong relationship in order to ensure continuity of supplies and resolution of technical issues.
• Build partnership with key internal stakeholders such as finance, facilities, quality, R&D, PMO and regulatory to adhere to various requirements and understanding of projects.
• Responsible for procurement activities including purchase order (PO) creation and management, cost analysis, inventory and vendor management in accordance with operating policies and procedures.
• Analyze demand and usage of various materials including critical supplies, clinical materials, components and consumables.
• Manage related information and documentation such as open purchase order listing, un-invoiced receipt amounts, supplier details, and statements.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities, production capacity, business continuity, and operational risks to ensure uninterrupted supply.
• Drive supplier performance through regular business reviews, performance metrics, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and execute cost savings, supplier consolidation, inventory optimization, and process improvement opportunities.
• Analyze procurement data, supplier performance, spend trends, and KPIs to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Ensure procurement data integrity and compliance within SAP and company procurement policies.
• Coach and mentor junior buyers and purchasing personnel as appropriate. 
• The above statements are intended to describe the nature of work performed by those in this job and are not an exhaustive list of all duties. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time which reflects management’s assignment of essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive procurement and purchasing experience, including experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing strategic supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and contract administration.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of end-to-end procurement lifecycles and source-to-pay workflows
• Ability to perform gap analyses between business operational needs and software capabilities
• Technical literacy regarding modern e-procurement platforms, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning—software that manages core business processes) systems, and spend analytics tools
• Advanced hands-on SAP procurement experience (MM or equivalent) is required
• Advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency
• Strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management
• High Volume Supplier Management
• Coach and train purchasing agents/buyers, and expediters
• Contract negotiation and commercial acumen
• Critical thinking, complex problem solving, and judgment and decision-making
• Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Continual improvement process