Senior Procurement Specialist

Overview

AmeriWater is a long-established industry leader in the design, manufacture, installation and supply of water purification systems and services for dialysis, industrial and healthcare applications. We are looking for a Senior Procurement Specialist join our growing team in Dayton, Ohio!

Position Summary

Responsible for proactively managing supplier performance, material continuity, and supply risk to support operational stability and business growth. Focuses on identifying and resolving potential material shortages before they impact production through data analysis, supplier collaboration, and cross-functional coordination.

Partners closely with Production Planning, Engineering, and Quality teams to strengthen supplier readiness, improve supply continuity, support New Product Development (NPD), and drive supplier performance improvements. Play a key part in supplier development initiatives, cost optimization efforts, and continuous improvement activities designed to improve supply chain resiliency and operational efficiency.

Primary Responsibilities

Supplier Operations & Risk Management

• Assess supplier operational risks including financial stability, geopolitical exposure, capacity limitations, and supply dependencies.
• Develop mitigation plans to minimize supply disruptions and improve business continuity. 
• Monitor market conditions, raw material trends, and external factors that may impact supply availability or pricing. 
• Support supply chain stabilization efforts during periods of disruption or changing business demand. 
• Identify supply risks using ERP/MRP systems and data analysis. 

Supplier Performance & Development

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and distributors.
• Evaluate supplier readiness through operational assessments focused on 5S methodology - production capacity, labor availability, equipment capability, environmental compliance and measurements.
• Resolve supplier issues related to quality, delivery, and cost discrepancies.
• Identify and qualify alternative suppliers to mitigate risk and improve supply chain resilience.

Inventory & Material Planning

• Collaborate with Production, Planning, and Warehouse teams to ensure material availability.
• Support inventory level optimization to reduce excess stock while preventing shortages.
• Monitor vendor-managed inventory (VMI) and just-in-time (JIT) strategies.
• Analyze purchasing trends and utilize demand planning forecasts to anticipate material needs, using the data to drive effective blanket order strategies that support cost control and supply continuity.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead initiatives focused on improving supplier performance, procurement efficiency, and supply chain responsiveness. 
• Develop and maintain procurement and supplier performance metrics including cost savings, supplier delivery performance, lead time reduction, and supplier quality trends. 
• Identify opportunities to improve supply chain efficiency, supplier resiliency, and operational effectiveness.
• Support cost savings initiatives through supplier collaboration, issuing and managing RFQs, analyzing quotes, executing sourcing activities, and driving continuous improvement efforts.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and proactive problem-solving across the supplier base. 

NPD & Supplier Readiness

• Support New Product Development initiatives through supplier sourcing, quotation management, supplier readiness evaluations, material launch coordination, including analyzing BOMs against ERP data to identify discrepancies, ensure material readiness, and mitigate supply risks prior to launch.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Quality teams to ensure supplier capabilities align with product specifications and operational requirements.
• Support supplier selection and qualification activities for new and existing products.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management within a manufacturing or assembly environment.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems for purchasing and material planning.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to proactively identify and address supply risks.
• Strong understanding of supply chain principles, cost analysis, including experience. identifying, analyzing, and preventing material shortages in a manufacturing environment
• Analytical mindset with experience in cost reduction and risk mitigation strategies.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Engineering, Production, and Quality teams and influence outcomes.
• Knowledge of supply chain principles, supplier management, operational workflows, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong problem solving, verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask effectively.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced and evolving operational environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with ERP systems. 

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Health insurance 
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance 
• HSA with Employer Contribution 
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life insurance
• Company Paid Short-term and Long-term Disability 
• Paid time off

AmeriWater is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
AmeriWater is an E-Verify Program participant.