Procurement Manager - Aerospace (Mercantile)

About the Role

The Aerospace Procurement Manager leads strategic sourcing, procurement, and supplier management activities to support the production, maintenance, and delivery of aerospace products and services.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement & Sourcing
  • Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with aerospace production schedules, customer requirements, and business objectives.
  • Lead sourcing initiatives for aerospace materials, machined components, avionics, electronics, raw materials, special processes, tooling, and outsourced services.
  • Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers to ensure long-term supply continuity and competitive pricing.
  • Conduct supplier evaluations, RFQs, bid analyses, and contract negotiations.
• Supplier Management & Performance
  • Manage supplier qualification, onboarding, and performance measurement programs.
  • Monitor supplier delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost performance through established KPIs.
  • Partner with Supplier Quality and Engineering teams to resolve supplier nonconformances and corrective actions.
  • Conduct supplier business reviews and participate in supplier audits as required.
  • Identify and mitigate risks associated with long-lead materials, capacity constraints, geopolitical issues, and supply disruptions.
  • Develop inventory and sourcing strategies to support production continuity.
• Cost Management & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead cost-reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, value engineering, and process improvements.
  • Analyze spend data and procurement metrics to identify opportunities for operational efficiencies.
  • Support make-versus-buy decisions and supplier consolidation initiatives.
  • Drive continuous improvement projects that enhance procurement performance and supply chain resilience.
• Leadership & Collaboration
  • Lead and develop procurement personnel, buyers, and purchasing specialists.
  • Foster cross-functional collaboration between Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, and Finance teams.
  • Provide procurement status updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Experience:
  • 7+ years of procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience in aerospace, aviation, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
  • Experience negotiating complex supplier agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
  • Experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Infor, or Epicor.
• Knowledge & Skills:
  • Working knowledge of AS9100 quality systems and aerospace regulatory requirements.
  • Expertise in contract negotiation, supplier management, and cost analysis.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical requirements.
  • Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.