Buyer I

The Buyer I is responsible for purchasing execution for assigned product lines, from requisition review and purchase order placement through delivery and discrepancy resolution. This role evaluates demand, inventory, lead times, and supplier requirements to balance material availability with inventory and spending objectives. The Buyer I maintains accurate purchasing records, monitors supplier commitments, proactively communicates supply risks, and coordinates with internal teams and suppliers to resolve issues.

Additional responsibilities include supporting negotiations, procurement strategies, engineering changes, new product launches, returns, and invoice reconciliation; managing the MRO purchasing inbox; and recommending practical process improvements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Own purchasing execution for assigned product lines, including requisition review, purchase order placement, supplier acknowledgment, delivery follow-up, and discrepancy resolution.

Evaluate demand, inventory availability, open purchase orders, lead times, and minimum order quantities to determine appropriate order quantities and delivery schedules.

Balance material availability with inventory and spending objectives; identify opportunities to adjust delivery timing or quantities as business needs change.

Obtain and maintain supplier commitments, monitor progress against agreed schedules, and promptly address missed milestones or delivery changes.

Proactively communicate material shortages and supply risks to affected teams, including business impact, recovery actions, and support needed.

Maintain accurate purchase order dates, quantities, pricing, and supplier commitments in the ERP system.

Assist with pricing and delivery negotiations, supplier selection, and supplier management within established purchasing guidelines.

Support implementation of procurement strategies, including supplier consolidation, kanban, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), and identification of alternative supply sources.

Coordinate with Planning, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and suppliers to resolve issues affecting material availability and order completion.

Support engineering change orders and resolution of nonconformances and receiving discrepancies.

Support new product development and launch activities by purchasing raw materials, components, and instruments for prototypes, pilot production, and initial launch requirements.

Assist with return-to-vendor (RTV) activities and reconciliation.

Work with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and supplier billing disputes.

Manage the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) purchasing inbox, ensuring requests are reviewed, routed, and addressed in a timely manner.

Identify recurring purchasing issues and recommend practical process improvements.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Proven procurement, project management, cost reduction, and process improvement skills.
• Working knowledge of MRP software.
• Detail oriented and possess solid math skills.
• Proven negotiations skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required to communicate effectively with all levels both internal and external.
• Self-directed, self-starter that possesses ability to prioritize multiple projects and works independently as well as in a team environment.
• Participate in cross-functional improvements and own assigned actions through completion.
• High degree of initiative and ownership.
• Must possess solid analytical skills in forecasting and anticipating production needs and capabilities.
• Independent use of excel formulas, pivot tables and basic data analysis.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of changing situations in a fast paced environment.
• The ability to energize and influence cross functional project teams and individuals including internal and external resources at all levels.
• Computer literacy applied to scheduling and data management.
• Strong interpersonal skills requiring the ability to resolve conflicting interests and obtain cooperation.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and other applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Visio) to support project work, inventory modeling and effective management reporting and presentations.
• Relevant purchasing experience and demonstrated follow-through.
• Process improvement functions within a manufacturing or medical device environment preferred.
• Project management experience and formal project management training preferred.
• Education and/or Experience: Minimum undergraduate, bachelors (BS/BA) degree, preferably in a related field.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in related field, preferably in a medical device environment.
• Certifications, Licenses, Registrations: Functional certification desired or in progress (APICS, Six Sigma, CPM, CPIM, CPCM, PMI).
• Equal Employment Opportunity & Other Disclosures
• ATEC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to its employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state or local laws. Further, ATEC will make reasonable accommodations that are necessary to comply with disability discrimination laws.
• For roles based in the United States that require access to hospital facilities, must be eligible for and maintain credentials at all required hospitals, including meeting any applicable physical requirements or vaccination requirements (including the COVID-19 vaccine, as applicable).
• At this time, ATEC Spine does not sponsor employment visas for this position. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future employer sponsorship.