Buyer I

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 supporting category-specific procurement activities that contribute to supply continuity, supplier performance, inventory objectives, and business requirements. Works closely with Category Management, Planning, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supplier Quality, Accounts Payable, and Suppliers to support sourcing and procurement initiatives for assigned categories. Develops knowledge of category markets, supplier capabilities, and procurement processes while assisting with supplier performance management, sourcing activities, and analytical projects. Regular interaction occurs with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to resolve purchasing, delivery, quality, and supply-related issues.

Job Summary

The Buyer I – Category supports procurement activities across multiple manufacturing locations, ensuring supply continuity, inventory availability, and consistent execution of category strategies.  This position supports supplier management processes and carries out sourcing initiatives for assigned commodities or product categories. This role assists with supplier communications, procurement analysis, inventory management activities, RFQ support, and supplier performance monitoring while ensuring compliance with procurement policies and procedures. The position collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders to support category objectives, supply continuity, and operational requirements. The Buyer I develops foundational category management, analytical, supplier relationship, and negotiation skills while contributing to procurement and business goals.

Responsibilities

• Review MRP/related business tool recommendations and execute procurement actions to support production schedules, inventory objectives, and customer demand requirements across assigned locations. 
• Partner with Planning teams to coordinate material availability and supplier commitments in support of production schedules and inventory objectives. 
• Create, process, and manage purchase orders, requisitions, and procurement transactions in accordance with company policies and procedures.  Ensure procurement activities are performed in accordance with quality, regulatory, and business system requirements.
• Support engineering changes, supplier transitions, material qualification and assigned category procurement activities to meet operational, inventory, and business requirements.
• Monitor supplier delivery commitments and communicate with suppliers to support on-time delivery and continuity of supply.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, inventory, pricing, and lead-time information within ERP and related business systems.
• Develop working knowledge of assigned categories, supplier capabilities, market conditions, and procurement processes.
• Coordinate with Planning, Operations, Engineering, Supplier Quality, Quality, Warehouse, and Accounts Payable to resolve routine material, delivery, quality, and invoice-related issues.
• Support inventory management objectives by monitoring material availability, identifying potential shortages, and escalating concerns to appropriate stakeholders.
• Assist with supplier performance monitoring through maintenance of supplier data, scorecards, performance reporting, and corrective action follow-up activities.
• Prepare and analyze purchasing, supplier, inventory, and market-related data to support category and sourcing decision-making.
• Support request-for-quote (RFQ), request-for-proposal (RFP), supplier qualification, and sourcing activities as assigned.
• Support supplier negotiations related to pricing, lead times, and delivery performance within established sourcing strategies.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation in support of audit, compliance, quality, and business requirements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, process improvement projects, and cost-saving opportunities within assigned categories.
• Escalate supply, quality, delivery, and inventory issues appropriately to minimize business and operational impacts.
• Support special projects and perform other duties as assigned.
• As business needs dictate, work extended hours to complete daily department goals or tasks.

Travel

Minimal travel required. Up to 5% domestic travel for supplier visits, training, business meetings, or category-related activities as needed.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Required

• Knowledge of purchasing, procurement, inventory management, and supply chain principles.
• Basic understanding of supplier management and category procurement processes.
• Ability to utilize ERP systems and procurement-related business tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and other standard business applications.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze purchasing, supplier, and inventory data.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build productive working relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to identify, communicate, and appropriately escalate supply-related issues.
• Basic understanding of supplier performance metrics and inventory management concepts.
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and communicating in English.

 

Preferred

• Knowledge of category management, sourcing processes, or supplier performance management.
• Experience with ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting purchasing, sourcing, supplier management, or inventory planning activities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis preferred).
• Basic understanding of manufacturing, engineering, or quality 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 warehouse, receiving, or production locations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing business priorities.
• 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

• 1–3 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, inventory management, planning, operations, manufacturing, or a related business function.

Preferred

• 2–4 years of experience supporting category procurement, sourcing, supplier management, inventory planning, or supply chain activities within a manufacturing or distribution environment.

 

Education

Required

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

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.
• APICS, ISM, CPSM, CPIM, or other relevant supply chain/procurement certification 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.