Buyer II

Built on Experience. Built for Skill. Built for You. Keel was formed by bringing together three industry leaders combining generations of hands-on expertise in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing. That means when you join Keel, you’re joining a team backed by decades of proven craftsmanship and real-world results. We build ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures that serve critical missions — and we do it with pride.

About the role

This position is responsible for the purchasing of responsible commodities in an industrial environment to support production and related cross-functional teams. Work includes meeting with suppliers, reviewing requests, creating commodity strategies, creating requests for quote packages, sourcing suppliers to meet budget and program timing, ensuring suppliers understand (and comply to) flowed-down security and other requirements, analyzing pricing, comparing specifications, and expediting materials.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate all contracts, pricing, and issues with suppliers.
• Research, identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers to meet strategies & production requirements.
• Work with cross-functional teams to create requests for quotation and statements of work for items required.
• Conduct analysis of supplier quotes and competitively source lowest Total Cost Suppliers.
• Ensure reasonableness and detail of expedite and other emergent costs borne by Merrill or customers (including ‘cost-plus’ customers).
• Place Purchase Orders for the purchase of goods and services.
• Negotiate short and long-term strategic sourcing agreements with suppliers.
• Interview suppliers and evaluate their products and capabilities.
• Manage and improve supplier relationships.
• Accountable for all pricing, terms, quality and delivery of responsible commodities.

Requirements

• 4 Year bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or a related technical field / equivalent experience.
• 3 years’ minimum in Purchasing/Supply Chain role in a manufacturing environment.
• CPSM certification a plus.
• Experience in industrial materials/metals fabrication a plus.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, high energy, good communication, functional understanding of material properties and machining/processing/finishing methodologies, and cross-functional team skills.

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel between facilities and customer sites as needed.

Physical Requirements

May be required to stand, walk, sit, reach/pull/push with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel regularly. May lift or carry 50lbs. Weights exceeding 50lbs will require mechanical means to maneuver.

Our Values

• Uphold Safety and Quality Standards
• Embody Team Spirit
• Relentless Customer Focus
• Convey Integrity, Trust, and Professionalism
• Execute with Excellence and Velocity

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefit Package
• Competitive Pay
• 401(k) Match
• HSA/FSA
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Internal Referral Bonus Opportunities
• Shift Differentials
• Overtime Potential
• Paid on the Job Training
• Certification Sponsorship Opportunities
• Committed to Individual Career Growth
• We Do Fun Things, Plus More!