Senior Buyer

About Star Manufacturing

Star Manufacturing, a division of Star Holdings Group and part of the Middleby family of brands, designs and manufactures industry-leading commercial foodservice equipment used by some of the world’s most recognizable restaurant and hospitality brands. Proudly based in Smithville, Tennessee, we are committed to operational excellence, innovation, and supporting the people who make our products possible.

Position Summary

The Senior Buyer is responsible for strategic and tactical procurement of materials, components, and services supporting our manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Finance to ensure continuity of supply, cost competitiveness, and supplier performance—while supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the business.

This is a hands-on role ideal for an experienced purchasing professional who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and understands the balance between cost, quality, and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage procurement of direct materials, components, and services to support production schedules and customer demand
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, including negotiations on pricing, lead times, and contractual terms
• Analyze demand, inventory levels, and supplier capacity to mitigate risk and prevent shortages
• Partner with Planning, Manufacturing, and Engineering on new product introductions, cost reductions, and supplier transitions
• Monitor supplier performance metrics (OTD, quality, responsiveness) and drive corrective actions as needed
• Support cost-reduction and continuous improvement initiatives, including value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) efforts
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, ethical standards, and Middleby requirements
• Assist with forecasting, budgeting, and spend analysis
• Mentor or support junior buyers as needed

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of purchasing or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment (industrial or durable goods preferred)
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally
• Lean, continuous improvement, or sourcing certification a plus