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What is a senior buyer and how to become one
A senior buyer oversees purchasing activities for a company or organization. They work with suppliers to negotiate contracts, analyze market trends, and make purchasing decisions that align with the company's budget. Senior buyers also manage a team of buyers, develop procurement strategies, and ensure that all purchases are made in compliance with company policies and regulations. Strong analytical skills, negotiation abilities, and knowledge of supply chain management are essential for success in this role.
Avg. Salary $79,848
Avg. Salary $59,228
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%
Asian 7.63%
Black or African American 8.80%
Hispanic or Latino 12.14%
Unknown 4.38%
White 66.27%
Genderfemale 42.31%
male 57.69%
Age - 49American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 49Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a senior buyer?
Pros
Exposure to international markets and suppliers
Opportunity to work with cross-functional teams
Access to professional development programs and training opportunities
Flexibility in work schedule and location
The satisfaction of contributing to company success
Cons
Need to constantly stay updated on market trends and supplier capabilities
High degree of accountability for financial performance
Constant need to manage relationships with suppliers and stakeholders
High turnover rate due to stress and burnout
Limited work-life balance during peak periods.
Senior buyer career paths
Key steps to become a senior buyer
Explore senior buyer education requirements
Start to develop specific senior buyer skills
Skills Percentages Supply Chain 16.79% Purchase Orders 10.83% MRP 4.18% Supplier Performance 3.84% Commodities 3.74% Complete relevant senior buyer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior buyers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior buyer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior buyer resumes.Research senior buyer duties and responsibilities
- Manage assigned commodities by communicating MRP changes and forecasts to minimize excess inventory to achieve optimum inventory levels.
- Manage and analyze supplier OTD and keep in constant communication with suppliers to help improve delivery.
- Manage ECO process with overseas manufacturing partner.
- Lead Made2Manage ERP system development and implementation to improve effectiveness and efficiency of inventory.
Get senior buyer experience
Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior buyer. The most common roles before becoming a senior buyer include buyer, purchasing manager team lead and purchasing agent.Prepare your senior buyer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior buyer resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior buyer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable senior buyer resume templates
Build a professional senior buyer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior buyer resume.
Apply for senior buyer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior buyer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first senior buyer job
Are you a senior buyer?
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Average senior buyer salary
The average senior buyer salary in the United States is $79,848 per year or $38 per hour. Senior buyer salaries range between $56,000 and $112,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior buyers rate their job?
Senior buyer reviews
Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.
Works not recognized by upper management!
To be involved in negotiations
I like all in this job, because I have the choise to be in relation with a lot of persons and know what they are doing against purchasing also what the use to buy and under what coondition
When you demand change
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Updated January 8, 2025
