Chris Payer

About Chris Payer

My career is defined by ethical leadership, cultivating strategic supplier partnerships, and building high-performing teams within multimillion-dollar supply chains across Steel, Renewable Energy, Power & Water, Oil & Gas, Plastics and Railroad Product industries. With expertise in Direct, Indirect and CapEx investments, I drive measurable outcomes—maximizing profitability through strategic cost management, superior supplier performance, optimized payment terms, and possess an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service.My approach emphasizes speed, flexibility, cost control, risk reduction, and automation improvement to support the creation of world-class Procurement and Supply Chain sourcing programs. Additionally, I am committed to fostering a respectful, empathetic, and creative work environment, leveraging my diverse experience to drive results and build value for my team and organization.Primary Objectives- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with stakeholders and suppliers to unlock innovation and business opportunities- Drive cost-saving strategies through comprehensive spend analysis and multi-year planning across diverse business platforms- Champion competitive procurement processes, including E-Sourcing events, to maximize value and efficiency- Strengthen contractual agreements and SOWs to safeguard company interests and mitigate risks- Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of achievement and recognition- Establish and manage supplier performance programs, incorporating KPIs to ensure accountability and continuous improvement- Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to implement and align best practices and policies organization-wide- Enhance financial efficiency by optimizing payment terms and improving cash flow strategies- Implement procurement controls to minimize unauthorized spending and drive organizational compliance.

Experience

1. Procurement Manager

   Ferroworks Llc

   Dec 2024 — Present · Pittsburgh, PA, US

   Manages procurement activities across three manufacturing facilities to ensure seamless operations- Develops and executes procurement strategies to achieve cost savings, improve working capital, and enhance product quality- Negotiates and establishes supplier contracts, securing competitive terms and building strong, long-term partnerships- Performs market analysis to identify industry trends, competitive pricing, and supplier capabilities- Collaborates cross-functionally with departments to align purchasing initiatives with organizational objectives- Presents detailed reports on procurement performance, supplier metrics, and cost analysis to Executive Leadership, driving data-informed strategies.

Education

• Institute of Supply Management

  Certified Professional in Supply Management, CPSM, Supply Management

• University of Pittsburgh

  BSBA, Marketing

  2001 — 2005

Skills

• E-Procurement
• Supply Chain
• Supplier Development
• Spend Analysis
• Contract Negotiation
• Inco Terms
• Manufacturing
• Purchase Management
• Negotiation
• Engineering
• Supply Management
• Purchase Orders
• Iso
• Business Process Improvement
• Six Sigma
• Supplier Negotiation
• Lean Manufacturing
• Contract Management
• Continuous Improvement
• Purchasing
• Value Stream Mapping
• Process Improvement
• Logistics
• Material Requirements Planning (Mrp)
• Sourcing
• Supply Chain Management
• Strategic Sourcing
• Budgets
• Materials Management
• Global Sourcing
• Management
• Procurement
• Mrp