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Senior buyer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted expert

Abe Eshkenazi

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical senior buyer skills. We ranked the top skills for senior buyers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 16.8% of senior buyer resumes contained supply chain as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a senior buyer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 senior buyer skills for your resume and career

1. Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network or a sequence by which finished products of a company are distributed to retailers and then supplied to the end-users. The distribution of products and services from the production line to the final buyers is carried out in a series of steps including; manufacturing, transportation, and their distribution. The whole supply chain consists of different entities including; manufacturers, transportation, warehouses, suppliers, and retailers. The entities ensure that the products retain their originality while also minimizing the cost of delivery.

Here's how senior buyers use supply chain:

Collaborated supply chain operations and financial analysis to convert inventory and sales data into operational data to enhance planning and execution.
Participated in the integration of acquisition related direct supply chain legacy Purchase Orders resulting in consolidation into company s SAP system.

2. Purchase Orders

Here's how senior buyers use purchase orders:

Issue and document purchase orders in accordance with government and commercial documentation requirements, including Government Property system regulations.
Identified and facilitated implementation of business process solutions for line rationale for the issuance of purchase orders.

3. MRP

MRP is an abbreviation of Material Requirements Planning and refers to the control system which is implemented in the planning and management of the activities related to manufacturing. Through MRP, manufacturers can easily schedule the production and it can also be used for inventory. MRP systems are mostly software-based but the process can also be carried out manually.

Here's how senior buyers use mrp:

Determine material requirements from engineering and production analyze material requirements planning (MRP) and maintain inventory at strategic planned levels.
Maintained proper inventory levels with computerized MRP system, including planning, scheduling and forecasting product.

4. Supplier Performance

Supplier performance refers to practices aimed at optimizing a supplier's performance and capabilities.

Here's how senior buyers use supplier performance:

Resolved potential supplier problems with respect to quality and delivery while proactively designing the recovery strategy plans to drive supplier performance.
Managed entire purchasing operations and directed all aspects of transactions including cost, expediting, tracking supplier performance, conforming documentation.

5. Commodities

Here's how senior buyers use commodities:

Negotiated and managed purchase orders for mechanical, electrical and electronic commodities, as well as items fabricated per engineering specifications.
Managed machine components and sheet metal fabrication commodities by reducing supplier base and significantly improving quality ratings in one year.

6. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how senior buyers use continuous improvement:

Lead for project management over the purchasing and installation of capital equipment in support of expansion and continuous improvement strategy.
Developed and implemented performance measurement and quality standards with a focus on problem identification and achievement of continuous improvement objectives.

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7. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how senior buyers use customer service:

Maintained effective cross-functional relationships and worked together with manufacturing managers, planning department, and customer service to ensure on-time delivery.
Maintained consistency of Preferred Vendor lists and aided in pricing negotiation, customer service evaluation and overall vendor selection process.

8. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how senior buyers use logistics:

Assisted several buyers in writing Performance Based Logistics contracts with various contract vehicles based on the specific requirements and performance measurements.
Submitted weekly procurement reports from purchasing, scheduling, inspection and logistics directly to the Project Procurement Manager and Project Manager.

9. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how senior buyers use erp:

Created work instructions for managing Purchase Orders and Returns of discrepant material utilizing the ERP system for accurate financial accountability.
Developed and implemented effective ERP system and corporate training programs to promote maximized productivity throughout procurement team.

10. Cost Reduction

Here's how senior buyers use cost reduction:

Leveraged strengths in cost-effective procurement management and vendor negotiations to exceed annual cost reduction goals without compromising quality or delivery.
Negotiated terms and conditions with display repair suppliers achieving substantial cost reductions Project manager for the elimination of obsolete material.

11. Product Development

Product development is the complete procedure of creating a product from concept until release of the final product. Product development has many stages after which a product is released into the market. Identifying the need, creating the opportunity, conceptualizing a product, and providing a solution, all are different stages of product development.

Here's how senior buyers use product development:

Delivered consistent financial results through identifying industry trends, negotiating exclusive opportunities, product development, and planning merchandise assortments.
Researched qualifications of vendors, scheduled production starts, reviewed vendor performance and outsourced BOM associated material for product development.

12. Project Management

Here's how senior buyers use project management:

Work closely with manufacturing, shipping/receiving, and project management personnel to avoid any adverse production impact from supplier delivery delays.
Interfaced with and supported project management, engineering, inspection and expediting to ensure compliance with commercial and technical requirements.

13. Vendor Relationships

Vendor management is an activity or a program wherein it allows creating, managing and developing a good relationship for both the client and the service provider in a particular enterprise. It ensures constant communication with the vendors that benefit both parties. It provides engaging materials to promote further the product or service they provide.

Here's how senior buyers use vendor relationships:

Coordinated all aspects of purchasing, which involved developing and managing vendor relationships as well as maintaining efficient on-site inventory levels.
Stabilized existing vendor relationships by demonstrating knowledge of categories and providing a sense of partnership; resulting in mutually beneficial negotiations.

14. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how senior buyers use on-time delivery:

Managed approximately 15+ electrical suppliers, focusing on supplier on-time delivery, supplier stocking agreements, and return of defective/obsolete material.
Demonstrated highly successful management of detailed and time-sensitive print projects, resulting in on-time delivery of orders and within established budgets.

15. Strategic Sourcing

Here's how senior buyers use strategic sourcing:

Collaborated with peers to identify strategic sourcing events that would combine resources and streamline sourcing events both domestically and globally.
Initiated and implemented a strategic sourcing plan resulting in lower cost and improved company flexibility in delivering products to customers.

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What skills help Senior Buyers find jobs?

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Abe Eshkenazi

CEO, ASCM

COVID-19 has put a global spotlight on the importance of supply chain functions for all aspects of life, including food, e-commerce and logistics, public health, and the economy, so there's no better time for graduates to enter the profession.

A successful career in the supply chain requires both technical and leadership skills. The Association for Supply Chain Management's 2020 Salary and Career Survey found the top five technical skills for supply chain professionals to master include: inventory management, best practice knowledge, project management, computer skills, and risk management. On the flip side, the top leadership skills that respondents valued in potential employees were effective communication, collaboration with others, critical thinking, big picture future planning, and problem-solving. While it's not expected that new graduates have mastered each and every skill listed, they should be able to articulate to future employers how they have used these skills in the past and show that they plan to hone them in the future through on-the-job experience and continued learning.

In addition to academic credentials, there is a push towards more application/competency-based knowledge (certifications) that can be achieved for specific areas within the supply chain.

Do you want to know more?

List of senior buyer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a senior buyer resume and required skills for a senior buyer to have include:

Supply Chain
Purchase Orders
MRP
Supplier Performance
Commodities
Continuous Improvement
Customer Service
Logistics
ERP
Cost Reduction
Product Development
Project Management
Vendor Relationships
On-Time Delivery
Strategic Sourcing
R
Supplier Relationships

RFQ
ISO
Kanban
Procurement Process
Supplier Quality
Supplier Selection
RFP
Supplier Management
MRO
Electrical Components
Inventory Control
Delivery Dates
Strong Negotiation
Inventory Management
POS
Production Schedules
Cost Analysis

Capital Equipment
Quality Issues
Payment Terms
Price Analysis
Process Improvement
ECO
BOM
Vendor Performance
ITAR
NPI
Product Line
Contract Negotiations
FDA
PPV
JIT
Delivery Schedules

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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