Full-Time

Senior Buyer Distribution Sourcing

Posted on 10/28/2025

Deadline 1/14/27
Kirby Corporation

Kirby Corporation

201-500 employees

Operates coastal tank barges and ATBs

No salary listed

Oklahoma City, OK, USA

In Person

Category
Operations & Logistics (2)
,
Required Skills
Inventory Management
Forecasting
AutoCAD
SAP Products
Word/Pages/Docs
Oracle
Excel/Numbers/Sheets
Requirements
  • High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED) and three to seven years related experience.
  • Bachelor's Degree strongly preferred.
  • Prior manufacturing and/or fabricated equipment purchasing.
  • Experience for items priced in excess of $200,000 up to more than $1,000,000 required.
  • Ability to read, decipher and clarify AutoCAD blueprint drawings, Engineering Tools preferred
  • Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
  • Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.
  • Ability to take care of the customers’ needs while following company procedures.
  • Ability to bring energy to the performance of a task.
  • Ability to make decisions or take actions to solve a problem or reach a goal.
  • Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.
  • Ability to influence others to change position or to adopt a specific point of view.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook).
  • Familiar with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, Oracle preferred. SAP preferred. Familiarity with demand forecasting tools, E3 preferred.
Responsibilities
  • Purchase non-standard and custom designed manufactured items for the company.
  • Contact suppliers and vendors to establish product specifications and expectations, scheduling, and product availability.
  • May recommend a change of supplier if problems with service, price or availability of products arise.
  • Negotiate purchasing agreements with vendors assuring acceptable quality, with adequate delivery and other terms and conditions at the best price.
  • Monitor shipments to ensure that goods come in on time, and in the event of problems trace shipments and follow up on undelivered goods; confer with suppliers concerning late deliveries.
  • Monitor alignment of sales commitments, manufacturing requirements and vendor delivery capabilities.
  • Maintain and review computerized or manual records of items purchased, costs, delivery, product performance, and inventories.
  • Expedite deliveries and obtains approval for alternative items required for emergency.
  • Review and adjust incorrect invoices, shipping errors, replacement of materials not meeting company specifications, cancellation of orders, and engineering changes.
  • Coordinate with internal departments to ensure maximization of freight savings and to expedite needed materials into facility on a timely basis.
  • Monitor and control product inventory; compiles records of items purchased or transferred between departments, prices, deliveries, and inventories. Computes total cost of items purchased.
  • Consult catalogs and interviews vendors to obtain competitive prices and specifications; reviews market trends and maintains current awareness of new products and suppliers.
  • Match supplier and vendor capabilities with product design and acceptable tolerance requirements.
  • Differentiate among differences with various materials and assist in value analysis when selecting outside suppliers or manufacturing items internally.
  • Monitor step by step processing among outside suppliers and vendors for items requiring multistep processing activities.
  • Verify nomenclature and specifications of purchase requisitions; Interpret Engineering Bills of Material, drawings and change notices and process appropriately in a timely manner.
  • Coordinate closely with engineering to ensure all specification-controlled items are ordered with the correct specifications.
  • Compile information and records to prepare purchase orders for procurement of materials; ensure prompt placement of assigned orders in accordance with established policy.

Kirby Offshore Marine operates the United States’ largest coastal fleet of tank barges and towing vessels, moving refined products, black oil, and petrochemicals along Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. Its offshore fleet includes about 23 Articulated Tug/Barge (ATB) units, which pair a tug with a barge so the tug pushes the barge at sea, enabling safer, faster trips with better fuel efficiency and fewer delays compared to traditional tug-and-barge setups. Since 2015, Kirby has added six ATBs with a combined tank capacity exceeding 800,000 barrels. The company’s product flow relies on coastal shipping networks and ATB configurations to improve transit times and operational reliability, serving regional distribution in U.S. waters. The goal is to provide efficient, reliable marine transportation for refined products and petrochemicals while expanding capacity and maintaining safety in maritime operations.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Houston, Texas

Founded

1921

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q1 2026 EPS grew 13% to $1.50; guidance raised to 5%-15% growth.
  • Power generation backlog near $1B high-end driven by data centre and industrial demand.
  • Tight barge supply and high utilization rates support sustained margin expansion through 2026.

What critics are saying

  • USCG emissions regulations July 2027 mandate hybrid retrofits, requiring $500M+ unplanned capex.
  • Ingram Barge undercuts spot rates with newer fuel-efficient vessels, eroding utilization advantage.
  • Cummins engine delivery delays halt fleet modernization, forcing reliance on aging vessels.

What makes Kirby Corporation unique

  • Dominant inland tank-barge fleet expanded via $244M Cenac Marine acquisition in March 2026.
  • First battery-electric plug-in hybrid inland towing vessel positions Kirby as sustainability leader.
  • $710M Stewart & Stevenson acquisition strengthens distribution segment with diesel engines and equipment.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

Simply Wall St
Apr 8th, 2026
Kirby expands $750M revolver to 2031, shifts capital toward buybacks and vessels

Kirby Corporation has amended its credit agreement with JPMorgan and other lenders, extending its revolving credit facility to $750 million through March 2031. The facility, which refinances existing debt and supports vessel equipment purchases and share repurchases, can be expanded by an additional $500 million. The extended facility provides greater balance sheet flexibility whilst maintaining covenant limits on leverage and interest coverage. Kirby has already deployed over $800 million under its share repurchase programme, suggesting the company will balance equipment spending with continued buybacks. The move comes as Kirby's investment narrative continues to rely on tight barge supply and ageing fleets to support earnings, though prolonged softness in chemical markets remains a key risk.

Yahoo Finance
Feb 22nd, 2026
Atlantic Investment bets $25M on Kirby as marine operator posts $6.33 EPS and 20.8% margin in Q4

Atlantic Investment Management established a new position in Kirby Corporation, acquiring 223,000 shares in a $24.57 million trade, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing dated 17 February 2026. The position represents 13.8% of the fund's reportable assets under management. Kirby, a leading US marine transportation and distribution services provider, reported $6.33 in diluted earnings per share for 2025 on $3.36 billion in revenue, up from $4.91 the previous year. Marine transportation posted a 20.8% operating margin in the fourth quarter, whilst distribution and services benefited from 47% year-over-year growth in power generation demand. Shares traded at $126.68 on 17 February 2026, up 20% over the past year. Management expects 2026 earnings to be flat to up 12% year over year.

Yahoo Finance
Jan 30th, 2026
Kirby misses Q4 revenue as weather delays hit marine ops, but power gen revenue surges 47%

Kirby, a marine transportation service company, missed Wall Street's revenue expectations in Q4 2025, reporting $851.8 million in sales, up 6.2% year on year. However, its non-GAAP profit of $1.68 per share beat analyst estimates by 3.2%. The company cited seasonal weather delays and early-quarter pricing softness in inland marine operations as headwinds. However, spot rates recovered by quarter-end, and coastal operations maintained high barge utilisation in the mid to high 90% range. Operating margin improved to 15.2%, up from 6.3% the previous year. Distribution and services saw 47% year-on-year growth in power generation revenues, driven by data centre and industrial demand. Management expects steady 2026 performance, supported by tight vessel supply and improving barge utilisation, though inflationary pressures remain a concern.

Yahoo Finance
Jan 29th, 2026
Kirby misses Q4 revenue estimates at $851.8M despite 6.2% growth and record year

Kirby, a marine transportation service company, reported fourth-quarter revenue of $851.8 million, missing analyst estimates of $863.8 million despite growing 6.2% year on year. The company's GAAP earnings per share of $1.68 beat expectations by 3.4%. Adjusted EBITDA reached $203.1 million, exceeding analyst estimates by 5.9%, with a 23.8% margin. Operating margin improved to 15.2% from 6.3% in the prior year quarter, whilst free cash flow margin rose to 31.1% from 18.8%. Chief executive David Grzebinski called 2025 a record year for the company. Over the past five years, Kirby's revenue has grown at a 9.2% compound annual rate, though recent growth has slowed to 4.3% over the last two years.

ETF Daily News
Sep 24th, 2024
Seven Eight Capital LP Makes New $201,000 Investment in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX)

Seven Eight Capital LP makes new $201,000 investment in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX).

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