Buyer II

• Company: CooperSurgical

About CooperSurgical

CooperSurgical is a leading fertility and women’s healthcare company dedicated to putting time on the side of women, babies, and families at the healthcare moments that matter most in life. As a division of CooperCompanies, we're driven by a unified purpose to enable patients to experience life's beautiful moments. Guided by our shared values – dedicated, innovative, friendly, partners, and do the right thing – our offerings support patients throughout their lifetimes, from contraception to fertility and birth solutions, to women’s and family care, and beyond. We currently offer over 600 clinically relevant medical devices to healthcare providers, including testing and treatment options, as well as an innovative suite of assisted reproductive technology and genomic testing solutions. Learn more at www.coopersurgical.com. 

Scope

Responsible for executing procurement activities and managing supplier relationships for assigned commodities or categories in support of manufacturing operations and business objectives across one or more locations. Works independently with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure continuity of supply, supplier performance, inventory optimization, and cost competitiveness. Supports category strategy execution and continuous improvement initiatives. 

Job Summary

The Buyer II is responsible for independently managing assigned parts, suppliers, and procurement activities to ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials to manufacturing. The position serves as a critical link between internal stakeholders and suppliers, resolving supply-related issues while ensuring compliance with company policies and business requirements.  The role participates fully in category management team activities and supports category objectives through sourcing and procurement execution, supplier performance management, inventory optimization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

Supply Assurance & Procurement Execution

• Review MRP recommendations and execute procurement activities to support production schedules, inventory objectives, and business requirements.
• Create, maintain, and manage purchase orders, supplier schedules, and procurement transactions in compliance with company policies and procedures.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned suppliers, materials, and procurement activities.
• Coordinate supplier shipments, logistics activities, and material flow.
• Identify, assess, and take action to resolve supply chain risks to minimize disruption and ensure continuity of supply.
• Escalate significant supplier, inventory, delivery, and supply continuity risks to management and recommend corrective actions.

Inventory Optimization & Material Planning

• Partner with Planning and Operations teams to ensure material availability and alignment with production schedules and inventory objectives.
• Maintain accurate safety stock settings and lead time information in ERP system.
• Analyze purchasing, inventory, supplier, market, and operational data to support procurement decisions.
• Support engineering changes, dual sourcing initiatives, material qualifications, and new product introductions that impact inventory and material availability.

Supplier Performance & Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with assigned suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance and collaborate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve material, quality, and service-related issues.
• Conduct supplier business meetings and support supplier evaluation, qualification, development, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Strategic Sourcing & Cost Management

• Support sourcing activities including RFQs, supplier selection, cost analysis, supplier qualification, implementation, and approved supplier transitions.
• Negotiate routine supplier agreements related to pricing, lead times, delivery performance, and commercial terms within established sourcing strategies and authority levels.
• Identify and implement opportunities for cost reduction, process improvement, and operational efficiency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Planning, Operations, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Quality, and Finance to resolve material-related issues and support business initiatives.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies and procurement-related issues with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Data Management, Compliance & Reporting

• Maintain accurate supplier information, pricing, lead-time, and other procurement data within ERP and related business systems.

• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and business system procedures.
• Prepare and communicate reports, metrics, and status updates related to supplier performance, inventory management, and procurement results. 

This role will support special projects and perform other duties as assigned. As business needs dictate, may work extended hours to complete daily department goals or tasks.

Travel

Moderate travel may be required. Up to 10% domestic travel for supplier visits, business reviews, training, audits, and cross-functional meetings. Occasional international travel may be required based on supplier locations and business needs.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Required

• Knowledge of purchasing, procurement, inventory management, supplier management, and supply chain principles.
• Understanding of sourcing processes, supplier performance management, and category procurement practices.
• Experience utilizing ERP systems and procurement-related business tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze purchasing, supplier, inventory, and financial data.
• Effective supplier negotiation and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and manage competing business requirements.

• Ability to identify supply risks and develop effective action plans to mitigate risks.

• Ability to build productive relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and communicating in English.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities - Preferred

• Experience supporting category management and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Experience negotiating supplier agreements, pricing, lead times, and commercial terms.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar ERP systems.
• Experience working within a regulated manufacturing environment such as medical device, life sciences, aerospace, or other regulated industries.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including pivot tables, lookups, data modeling, and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of supplier quality, inventory planning, and demand planning processes.

Work Environment

• Primarily office-based environment with prolonged periods of sitting and computer work.
• Regular interaction with manufacturing, warehouse, engineering, quality, and operational areas.
• May require occasional visits to production, supplier, warehouse, or receiving locations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities and multiple deadlines.
• May require occasional lifting of materials or documents up to established company guidelines.
• Use of standard office equipment including computers, telephones, and printers.

Experience

Required

• 3–5 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, inventory management, planning, sourcing, manufacturing, or related business functions.

Preferred

• 4–6 years of experience managing suppliers, procurement activities, sourcing initiatives, or category responsibilities within a manufacturing or distribution environment.

Education

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Finance, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

• APICS, ISM, CPSM, CPIM, CPM, or other relevant supply chain or procurement certification.
• Advanced training in strategic sourcing, supplier management, analytics, or inventory management preferred.

Our Benefits:

As an employee of CooperSurgical, you'll receive an outstanding total compensation plan. As we believe your compensation goes beyond your paycheck, we offer a great compensation package, medical coverage, 401(k), parental leave, fertility benefits, paid time off for vacation, personal, sick and holidays, and multiple other perks and benefits. Please visit us at  www.coopersurgical.com  to learn more about CooperSurgical and the benefits of becoming a member of our team.

To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of CooperSurgical about this opening. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at CooperSurgical via-email, the internet or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of CooperSurgical, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by CooperSurgical for this position and a valid agreement with CooperSurgical is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of the CooperSurgical agency engagement process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.