Senior Buyer

Badger Meter - Where Every Drop Counts and So Do You
 

At Badger Meter, we're more than a leading global water technology company - we're innovators with a mission: to preserve and protect the world's most precious resource. For over 120 years, our trusted solutions have enabled our customers to optimize the delivery and use of water, maximize revenue and reduce waste.

Every employee at Badger Meter is an important part of our success. Here, your work doesn't just move a business forward - it shapes a more sustainable future. We are committed to building a workplace where we celebrate differences, empower voices, and encourage fresh ideas that drive innovation.

When you join us, you'll find:

• Purpose-driven work that makes a real difference in communities around the globe.

• Career growth and development opportunities designed to help you achieve your potential.

• A supportive, inclusive culture where collaboration and creativity thrive.

Be part of something bigger. At Badger Meter, your contributions will ripple far beyond the workplace - creating lasting change for people and the planet.

What You Will Contribute:
 

The Senior Buyer serves as the procurement subject matter expert and strategic business partner. In addition to managing complex sourcing and supplier relationships, the role influences procurement policies, develops procurement strategies, analyzes market and supply risks, and provides leadership within the purchasing function. Senior Buyers are expected to drive long-term value creation through supplier development, cost management, risk mitigation, and process improvement while mentoring others and supporting organizational decision-making.

Job Duties:

• Analyzes and schedules material purchases utilizing Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems.    

• Analyzes material availability, reviews and sets planning parameters and issues purchase orders as necessary to meet production requirements at optimum inventory levels for assigned commodities.

• Actively manages purchase orders through ongoing communication with suppliers and internal production teams to ensure on-time delivery.

• Resolution of invoice exceptions after receipt of product.

• Initiate and negotiate contracts with suppliers for material required by Company to meet customer requirements. 

• Plans and executes procurement strategies for products and services in conjunction with cross-functional project teams. 

• Evaluates and analyzes supplier quotations to determine best overall value.  Researches and recommends suppliers for development of new products and improvements to existing products to the Company.   

• Promotes company’s ISO quality requirements to suppliers and ensures compliance to standards for material purchases by leading corrective action efforts with underperforming suppliers.

• Assess and mitigate supplier performance metrics such as on time delivery, quality, responsiveness and PPV. Develops on-going continuous improvement programs with major suppliers; major emphasis being cost reduction, quality improvement and in time delivery. 

• Effectively engages in problem resolution on such items as defective purchases, invoice problems, order changes and cancellations, etc. 

• Develops and cultivates good business relations with current and potential suppliers, negotiating price, terms and conditions of purchase and delivery through organization.

• Establishes cost standards and accounts for variance to standard. 

• Prepare pertinent reports as required advising Management of developments affecting economic changes that could impact Company performance, such as commodity market conditions, supplier capacity and delivery abilities to determine risks to present and future material availability. 

• Researches, formulates and recommends changes in Company procurement policy for approval of the Procurement Manager.  These may be in connection with quality standards, bidding procedures, supplier relations/selection etc.  May confer with various departments such as Sales, Engineering, Quality, Accounting and Manufacturing to assist in the formulation of interdepartmental procedures and the resolution of problems as they relate to the purchasing functions.

• Organizes and leads supplier meetings to align goals and drive compliance to Company standards.

• Prepare and present information to groups both internal and external to Company. Tracking and follow up for all action items discussed.

• Trains and mentors others and is the subject matter expert on procurement strategy and procedure.  Acts as a positive role model to team members.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college, or equivalent experience

• 5+ years experience in a Supply Chain role

Qualifications:

• The ability to read drawings and decipher drawing and process specifications is required.

• Specialization required in Industrial Purchasing

• Position requires an advanced understanding of production and inventory control and forecasting procedures.

• Intermediate level in MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook, and Internet

• Advanced level in MRP, ERP, Problem Solving, and Negotiation skills

• Advanced in Verbal and Written Skills

• Strong time management and multi-tasking skills

Competencies:

• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives.

• Communication: Convey information and ideas clearly and concisely to individuals or groups in an engaging manner that helps them understand and retain the message; listen actively to others.

• Initiating Action: Take prompt action to accomplish work goals; take action to achieve results beyond what is required; be proactive.

• Work Standards: Setting high standards of performance for self and others; assuming responsibility and accountability for successfully completing assignments or tasks; self-imposing standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment.

Competitive Total Rewards at Badger Meter:

• Competitive Pay

• Annual Bonus

• Eligible for Annual Pay Increases

• Comprehensive Health, Vision, and Dental Coverage 

• 15 days Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays  

• Two Ways to Save for Retirement: Badger Meter contributes 25 cents for every dollar you contribute to the plan, up to 7% of your eligible compensation.  In addition to the match, the company will also contribute 5% of your eligible compensation to your Defined Contribution account on an annual basis. Additional access to a certified financial planner to help ensure your money is working for you, at no cost!

• Employer Paid benefits including: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Basic Group Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, and more 

• Educational Assistance – Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 

• Voluntary benefits including: Additional Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Accident and Critical Illness coverage

• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. This company considers candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Applicants can learn more about their rights regarding equal opportunity in employment by viewing the federal "EEO is the Law" poster and the “EEO is the Law” poster supplement at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm

Badger Meter complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local disability laws. This means that we will reasonably accommodate qualified employees with a disability if accommodation would allow them to perform the essential functions of their job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.  

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