Senior Buyer
5th AxisTurn Strategic Sourcing Into a Manufacturing Advantage at 5th Axis At 5th Axis , we’re global leaders in precision machining, automated production, and turnkey manufacturing solutions. From advanced workholding systems to zero-point technology, we design, build, and deliver solutions that empower machinists and manufacturers worldwide. Keeping that operation moving takes more than placing purchase orders. It takes someone who understands manufacturing, knows how to evaluate suppliers, can negotiate effectively, and recognizes the impact that cost, quality, capacity, and lead time have on the shop floor. We’re looking for an experienced Senior Buyer who can take ownership of sourcing and supplier relationships while helping us build a stronger, more responsive supply chain. A Purchasing Role Built for Manufacturing As a Senior Buyer , you’ll source production tooling, materials, components, supplies, and services supporting our manufacturing operations. You’ll work directly with suppliers and internal teams to evaluate pricing, capabilities, capacity, quality, lead times, and commercial terms. You’ll also help identify new sources, reduce costs, address supply risks, and resolve supplier issues that can impact production. This is not simply a purchase-order processing role. We’re looking for someone with meaningful purchasing, sourcing, and supplier-management experience who can evaluate options, negotiate effectively, and make sound purchasing recommendations in a manufacturing environment. What the Job Looks Like Production needs a critical material or tool and the current supplier cannot meet the required lead time—you identify alternatives and help protect the production schedule. Multiple suppliers quote the same requirement—you evaluate more than price, considering quality, capacity, lead time, service, and overall commercial value. A supplier’s performance begins slipping—you work with the supplier and internal teams to address the issue before it becomes a larger production problem. Engineering or Production needs an outsourced manufacturing solution—you evaluate supplier capabilities, capacity, pricing, and lead times. You identify an opportunity to reduce spend without sacrificing quality or delivery—you develop the sourcing strategy and negotiate the opportunity. A potential new supplier looks promising—you evaluate whether their manufacturing capabilities can actually support our requirements. What You’ll Do Here Source production tooling, materials, components, supplies, and services based on manufacturing and business requirements. Solicit, analyze, and compare supplier quotations based on price, quality, lead time, capacity, service, and commercial terms. Negotiate pricing, delivery, lead times, and other commercial terms within established authority. Evaluate existing and prospective suppliers and make sourcing recommendations. Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships and support development of new domestic and international supply sources. Monitor supplier performance and help resolve significant delivery, quality, cost, and service issues. Identify and execute cost-reduction opportunities through sourcing alternatives, negotiation, supplier development, and purchasing strategies. Evaluate material availability, supplier capacity, lead times, and supply conditions to identify and mitigate risk. Support outsourcing and make-versus-buy activities by evaluating supplier capabilities, capacity, pricing, and lead times. Partner with Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and other teams to support purchasing and sourcing decisions. Perform cost and commercial analysis to support negotiations and purchasing decisions. Prepare reports and analysis related to supplier performance, purchasing activity, consumption, and spend. Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information within ERP/MRP systems. Provide esc…