Buyer

Helps achieve maximum value from company spending while balancing business requirements including quality, inventory levels, supplier performance, delivery commitments, and regulatory compliance. Supports sourcing and procurement activities, supplier engagement, and material planning efforts to ensure the uninterrupted flow of materials necessary for product development and manufacturing operations. 

Responsible for the following:

• Support supplier qualification, onboarding, and ongoing management activities for suppliers on Velentium Medical's Approved Supplier List (ASL). 
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships while driving performance related to quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost. 
• Process purchase requisitions and purchase orders within NetSuite and monitor order status through receipt. 
• Source and procure raw materials, components, consumables, engineering samples, and services necessary to support development and manufacturing activities. 
• Coordinate transportation and logistics activities to ensure timely delivery of materials and supplies. 
• Proactively monitor supplier lead times and identify potential shortages, delays, or supply chain risks. 
• Communicate order status, supplier performance concerns, and material availability to internal stakeholders, escalating issues when necessary. 
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Inventory Control, and Program Management teams to support project and production requirements. 
• Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing, and inventory data within company systems. 
• Develop reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to communicate purchasing performance, supplier metrics, inventory levels, and delivery status to management. 
• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities by assisting with supplier selection, sourcing strategies, and material readiness. 
• Support Kanban inventory replenishment processes by monitoring inventory levels, replenishment triggers, and supplier lead times to ensure uninterrupted material availability.  
• Collaborate with Inventory Control, Manufacturing, and Engineering teams to maintain appropriate Kanban quantities, reorder points, and stocking strategies.  
• Monitor and proactively address Kanban shortages, stockouts, and excess inventory while balancing customer demand, production schedules, and inventory investment.  
• Utilize Kanban and other inventory management tools to drive material availability, improve inventory accuracy, and support operational efficiency. 
• Assist in identifying cost savings, process improvements, and supplier development opportunities 
• Adhere to company policies, quality system requirements, and applicable regulatory standards when performing procurement activities. 

Qualifications 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in procurement, sourcing, purchasing, or supply chain management within a manufacturing environment. 
• Ability and willingness to inspect and/or review the deliverables of others, up to their level of expertise, according to applicable defined Quality criteria. 
• Experience working with ERP systems; NetSuite experience preferred. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Outlook, and Word. 

Additional Qualifications:

• A fit with Velentium Medical culture: Honor, Results++, Humble Charisma, Velocity, Ingenuity. 
• A love for understanding how products are built, how supply chains function, and how to keep projects and production moving forward. 
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate and resolve supply chain challenges before they impact business operations. 
• Ability to understand the broader business impact of procurement decisions, including cost, quality, inventory, lead times, supplier performance, and customer commitments. 
• Demonstrated experience that displays an ability to learn and apply new skills. 
• A demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team. 
• A desire to thrive in a rapidly changing and quick-paced environment. 
• An attitude of doing whatever it takes to identify and implement solutions to challenging and evolving supply-demand issues. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. 
• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate supplier and supply chain risks. 
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to communicate purchasing and supplier performance. 
• Ability to build and maintain effective supplier relationships while holding suppliers accountable for quality, delivery, and service expectations. 
• Familiarity with inventory management principles, demand planning, and materials management concepts. 
• Understanding of supplier qualification, supplier performance management, and procurement best practices. 
• Experience in the medical device industry, FDA-regulated environment, or ISO 13485 quality system preferred. 
• Familiarity with FDA regulations, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and regulated manufacturing environments preferred. 
• Bilingual Spanish and/or Mandarin Chinese language skills preferred. 
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence. 
• Ability to stay current with industry trends, market conditions, and supply chain best practices. 
• Experience supporting Kanban, pull-based replenishment systems, inventory management, or material planning processes preferred.  
• Understanding of lean manufacturing principles, Kanban systems, and inventory optimization techniques preferred.