Senior Buyer

Pay

Salary Range: $75,000 - $125,000

About the Company

We were founded in 1918 as Young & Franklin Tool Works on Franklin Street in Syracuse, but we’ve come a long way since then! Our product lines are low volume, high mix, and very tight tolerances. We manufacture, assemble and test valves and actuators for the Aerospace and Power Generation markets. Our 120,000‑square‑foot facility houses R&D, Design Engineering, Assembly & Test, and an 80,000‑square‑foot Machining Operation. We regularly invest in new machines but recently outdid ourselves investing in five new machines in 18 months! We’re part of the TransDigm Group (NYSE: TDG), one of the world’s leading suppliers of highly engineered components for virtually all aerospace applications, helping us continually invest in new products and technology. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds who share in our enthusiasm for innovation, design, and manufacturing excellence.

Position Summary

Primary point of contact between Young & Franklin Tactair and its suppliers. Collaborate across all functions, especially with operational planning, warehouse/inventory control, and other operational teams. Identify potential suppliers and sources, screen them, and negotiate favorable payment terms, pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, quality levels, and assure annual PPV targets are achieved. Conduct negotiations, monitor supplier performance, and ensure contractual obligations and company objectives are met.

Responsibilities

• Plan and purchase engineered materials and complex precision parts; analyze material requirements, obtain quotes, negotiate price and terms; place purchase orders to meet engineering specifications, delivery goals, and targets for price, quality, and inventory.
• Own the process to identify, select, and validate/approve new supplier sources.
• Develop supply‑base strategy, monitoring performance and risk for present and future business needs.
• Execute strategy to continually improve supplier performance and ensure alignment with company objectives and business plan.
• Visit suppliers as required to provide assistance and leadership in problem identification and resolution.
• Resolve complex, business‑critical issues by leveraging technical, manufacturing, and supply‑base expertise.
• Proactively coordinate the supply chain to support new programs.
• Communicate supplier issues that could impact the business plan and recommend contingency plans to mitigate risk.
• Propose and facilitate the implementation of value analysis/value engineering projects to drive company productivity initiatives.
• Pursue challenges with enthusiasm, urgency, and a sense of ownership.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Must be a US Person (as defined in applicable export regulations) or a non‑US person eligible to obtain required export authorization.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline emphasizing analytics such as engineering, mathematics, logistics, supply chain, business, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing business processes for procurement and material planning, including development of new suppliers and managing supplier improvement plans.
• Proven experience in negotiation and business relationship management.
• Strong understanding of financials, technical and manufacturing know‑how, and data analysis skills.
• Experience in ERP systems workflow and data management functions.
• Experience in vertically integrated planning and procuring machined components, valves, assemblies, and electronics.
• Clear communication and effective cross‑functional collaboration skills.

Physical Demands

• Sit, stand, walk and interact throughout the day in a typical office environment.
• Reach above the shoulder, below the waist, and lift up to 10 pounds to file documents or store materials.
• Walk through manufacturing areas requiring personal protective equipment: safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.