Buyer (External Manufacturing)

Location: Trumbull, CT

Pay Rate: $35–$40/hour

Duration: Approximately 6 months

Schedule: 1st shift (~8a-5p) Monday–Friday, 100% onsite

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a Buyer, External Manufacturing to support day-to-day procurement activities for external contract manufacturing operations and finished goods supply. This role will serve as the primary purchasing contact for assigned external manufacturing partners and suppliers, helping ensure material availability, continuity of supply, inventory optimization, and successful execution of production plans.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced supply chain professional who is comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment and can independently manage competing priorities with a strong sense of urgency and ownership. The role will support a global portfolio of suppliers and external manufacturing partners across multiple regions and time zones.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate purchasing requirements and supplier commitments based on business needs, inventory objectives, customer demand, and external manufacturing production schedules.


• Manage the full purchasing lifecycle, including order placement, supplier follow-up, schedule changes, delivery management, and issue resolution.


• Monitor supplier commitments and proactively adjust purchasing activities based on changing forecasts, inventory requirements, and production priorities.


• Serve as the primary purchasing contact for assigned external manufacturing suppliers and manage day-to-day procurement activities.


• Ensure material availability and continuity of supply to support external manufacturing production requirements.


• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers across multiple geographic regions and time zones.


• Identify potential supply risks and independently drive corrective actions to help prevent production or customer delivery disruptions.


• Coordinate material availability and supplier commitments to support external manufacturing production plans.


• Partner cross-functionally with Planning, Operations, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and External Manufacturing teams to resolve shortages and supply constraints.


• Maintain accurate supplier, purchasing, inventory, lead-time, and procurement data within Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) and related systems.


• Prepare purchasing, shortage, inventory, and supplier performance reports.


• Support new product introductions, product transfers, engineering changes, and supplier transitions.


• Escalate significant supply, delivery, and inventory issues while providing recommended corrective actions.


• Develop, prepare, review, and publish weekly and/or monthly reports as directed by management.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of purchasing experience, preferably supporting external manufacturing, contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs), CDMOs, and/or finished goods suppliers.


• Experience managing a global portfolio of suppliers across multiple regions, cultures, and time zones.


• Experience within medical device, life sciences, pharmaceutical, or another regulated manufacturing environment.


• Strong ERP experience; Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) preferred.


• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including data analysis, reporting, and management of large datasets.


• Strong supplier management, communication, follow-up, and relationship-building skills.


• Ability to work independently and effectively in a fast-paced, evolving organization.


• Demonstrated ability to identify problems, assess priorities, and drive solutions with a strong sense of urgency.


• Strong ownership mentality, accountability, initiative, and commitment to execution.


• Ability to effectively communicate with and influence cross-functional stakeholders.


• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy.


• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving results in a growing organization with evolving processes and systems.

Work Environment

This is a 100% onsite position based in Trumbull, Connecticut. The role is primarily office-based and requires prolonged sitting at a computer workstation.