Sr. Buyer - Defense & Space Manufacturing

Summary:

The Sr. Buyer manages the active supply base to optimize supplier performance and support operational excellence. They lead problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives while influencing key stakeholders. The role ensures timely ordering and material availability based on approved requisitions and is accountable for developing and maintaining competitive sources for materials, supplies, and services.

Key Responsibilities:

Active supply base management to optimize supplier performance and accommodate operational excellence. Champion problem-solving activities, foster continuous improvement environment and influence stakeholders. The Sr. Buyer is responsible for the ordering, based on approved requisitions, and availability of materials to meet development/production requirements. This includes responsibility for developing and maintaining competitive sources for materials, supplies and services.

• PO Process
  • Executes, purchase order, blanket purchase orders and other measures to secure long term supply & fix pricing.
  • Identified opportunities for supplier Kan Ban, safety stock or VMI & initiate.
  • Ensures that purchase order records are always accurate, and resolves any discrepancies about price, lead time, transportation & T/C’s expeditiously.
  • Manages the execution of complex processing & operations.
  • Responds urgently to shortages or push outs.  Able to resolve and manage effectively to prevent disruption to operations & customer expectations.
  • Follows all company purchasing policies and procedures.
  • Receives and evaluates proposals from potential suppliers. Develops negotiation plans, and with management approval, completes negotiations. 
  • Documents procurement files to show that competent consideration has been given to all factors essential to effective and economical procurement. 
• Negotiations 
  • Lead negotiation on costs, inventory & standard T/Cs
  • Price justification and cost analysis
  • Ability to influence multiple suppliers.
• Daily Work
  • Leads supplier on-time delivery corrective actions.
  • Source for escalation for daily issues
  • Perform root cause analysis to facilitate daily management & problem solving.
  • Lead audit initiatives on standard work
  • Train other buyers
  • Ability to lead/mentor & develop standard work.
  • Conducts all compliance activity to support corporate & business requirements.
  • Pre-emptively manage material obsolescence & lifecycle events
  • Responsible for resolving supplier feedback.
  • Fully understand origin of system messages and ability to troubleshoot.
  • Facilitate change management within department and externally. Coordinates engineering, manufacturing, and quality control requirements with suppliers. 
  • Process FAR/DFAR compliant purchases
  • Adhere to CPSR guidelines and participate in audit activities
  • Adhere to Small Business guidelines and participate in Small Business Audit activities
• Continuous Improvement
  • Lead/Facilitate various continuous improvement events.
• Supply Base Management
  • Understands and may influence suppliers supply chain, takes action to mitigate risk.
  • Develops and maintains competitive sources for materials, supplies and services. Coordinates source selection decisions with other company activities as required. 
  • Keeps abreast of the market, business cycles, scarcity, and surplus conditions.
  • Ability to influence supplier and supply chain performance.
  • Ability to create solutions to shortages, cost or pushouts through collaboration, alternatives, and innovation.
  • Knowledge of scorecard rating & SCARs. 
  • Identifies new sources & performs basic capability assessment.
  • Responsible for source transition activity, part qualification.
  • Develops and maintains good supplier relations by adhering to high standards of business ethics and fair dealing

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor of Science in Business or related field or 5+ years related experience in lieu of degree 3+ years of purchasing experience in an aerospace environment or equivalent experience. 
• At least 3 years of working in an MRP environment. Working knowledge of Kanban, a plus.
• Good negotiating skills.
• CPM and/or APICS certification desirable
• FAR/DFAR Experience
• CPSR and DCMA Small Business Audit Experience

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