Buyer Sr

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies. We are seeking a Senior Buyer to support our Fabrication and Machining Purchasing Team located in our Rancho Bernardo, CA office.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Interprets and develops purchasing policies and procedures.
• Maintains an awareness of regulatory changes.
• Provides leadership in the review and analysis of statistical data to determine feasibility of buying products and to establish price objectives.
• Led cost and pricing reviews with program management and customers.
• Identifies, develops and selects qualified suppliers. Evaluates supplier reliability. Follows up, expedites, and negotiates changes relative to delivery and supplier performance.
• Knowledgeable in the acquisition of Time and Material and Labor Hour type contracts.
• Ensures competitive and sole source procurements meet contract/subcontract objectives/directives, timetables and documentation requirements.
• Responsible for purchasing complex and mission critical equipment, services, parts and supplies necessary to support assigned contract(s), subcontract(s) or an internal organization(s).
• Provides leadership in proposal reviews and conducts major procurement negotiations, developing innovative solutions to unusually complex purchasing problems.
• Acts as a resource for available or potential suppliers and reviews and evaluates their operations to validate cost, quality, reliability, and ability to meet schedule and program requirements.
• Interprets established policies, procedures, and standard practices to develop proactive plans to ensure that purchasing activities achieve desired objectives and timetables.
• Conducts major procurement negotiations.
• Reviews, interprets, and makes recommendations regarding negotiated terms and conditions.
• Validates purchase requisitions, selects or recommends suppliers, develops and solicits bids, analyzes and evaluates responses, negotiates prices and other terms, monitors delivery, approves payment, and maintains necessary records.
• Reviews and analyzes suppliers’ bids and performs cost and/or price analysis.
• Identifies purchasing issues and provides leadership in developing innovation solutions.
• Represents the organization as a primary purchasing consultant on assigned contracts/subcontracts to internal and external customers and suppliers.
• Makes presentations to internal and external representatives as required.
• Provides guidance and leadership to less experienced professional purchasing and support staff.
• Participates in the selection, development, and training of purchasing staff.
• Observes all laws, regulations and other applicable obligations wherever and whenever business is conducted on behalf of the Company.
• Works in a safe manner in accordance with established operating procedures and practices.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's degree in business administration or related discipline along with fifteen or more years of progressive professional experience in government and commercial purchasing.
• Equivalent professional purchasing experience may be substituted in lieu of education.
• Must have a comprehensive and thorough understanding of purchasing theories, concepts and principles, experience with FAR and related governmental rules and regulations; and experience demonstrating a broad application of those theories, concepts, principles and regulations.
• Must have experience and familiarity with Statements of Work and drawings as it relates to fabrication and machining commodities.
• Must have experience with PO types such as FFP, FFPLOE, and T&M.
• Working knowledge with special payment types (ie. milestones, PBPs, progress payments, etc.) is desirable.
• Must have experience with international buying (ITAR, EAR, export/import compliance).
• Must have working knowledge of Excel.
• SAP experience is desirable.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team is essential.
• Able to work extended hours and travel as required.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.