| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Procurement and Purchase |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Category Manager |
| Direct reports | Buyer |
| Experience | 4 to 7 years in buying with high value items |
Senior Buyer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Senior Buyer
Department: Procurement and Purchase
Reports to: Category Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Senior Buyer handles the key and high value items in a category, negotiates the harder deals and mentors the junior buyers. They own their item list end to end, from getting competitive quotes and negotiating to placing orders and securing on time delivery. The role reports to the Purchase Manager or Category Manager. A good senior buyer squeezes real savings out of tough items, keeps critical parts supplied, brings judgement to price and supplier calls, and lifts the whole desk by setting the standard for the buyers around them.
Key responsibilities
- Own buying for the key and high value items in the category from quote to delivery.
- Get competitive quotes and negotiate price, terms and delivery for the harder, higher value buys.
- Place and track purchase orders for critical parts and secure delivery ahead of need.
- Build and manage relationships with the important suppliers for the assigned items.
- Deliver a savings target on the assigned items and record the savings against baseline.
- Resolve price, quality and delivery issues on critical items quickly with the supplier.
- Support sourcing events for the category with market and supplier knowledge of the items.
- Guide junior buyers on negotiation, follow up and system use, and check their tougher orders.
- Keep price history, supplier records and order status current for the assigned items.
- Escalate risks such as a single source or a price spike to the category manager with options.
Requirements
- Graduate in engineering, commerce or science
- A purchase or supply chain course is an advantage
- Working knowledge of GST on purchases
- 4 to 7 years in buying with high value items
KRAs and KPIs for a Senior Buyer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Savings | Savings target on assigned items delivered and recorded against baseline |
| Critical supply | No stockout of critical assigned items during the year |
| Delivery | On time in full delivery on assigned items above the agreed level |
| Negotiation | Price increases on assigned items held below the market movement |
| Supplier management | Key suppliers for assigned items reviewed and rated on schedule |
| Team support | Junior buyer orders checked and guidance given as agreed |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: SAP MM, Oracle ERP, MS Excel, e-procurement portals, Supplier portals.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Category Manager, Procurement Manager, Commodity Buyer
Interview questions for a Senior Buyer
- How do you approach a negotiation for a high value, hard to source item?
- How do you secure a critical part when the supplier is slipping on delivery?
- What do you do when a key item goes single source and the price jumps?
- How do you record and defend the savings you claim on an item?
- How do you coach a junior buyer who keeps missing follow ups?
- Walk me through how you built a strong relationship with a key supplier.
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What does a Senior Buyer do?
A Senior Buyer handles the key and high value items in a category. They get competitive quotes, negotiate the harder deals, place and track orders for critical parts, manage important suppliers and deliver savings. They also mentor junior buyers and check their tougher orders, setting the standard for the desk.
What is the difference between a Buyer and a Senior Buyer?
A Buyer handles routine items and raises and follows up orders against set prices. A Senior Buyer takes the high value and difficult items, leads the harder negotiations, manages key suppliers and mentors juniors. The senior buyer brings more judgement, ownership and savings responsibility.
How do you become a Senior Buyer?
Most Senior Buyers start as buyers or purchase executives and move up after four to seven years of solid buying, especially on higher value items. Strong negotiation, supplier management and cost analysis, plus a purchase or supply chain course, help make the step to senior buyer.