Strategic Buyer

Main Responsibilities

• Supplier Management & Procurement (Primary Focus ~90%):
  • Own and manage a supplier book of approximately $25–$30M across raw materials and purchased components
  • Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with strategic suppliers, including regular on-site visits and travel as needed
  • Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) to support program stability and cost performance
  • Lead mass RFQ events for new and recurring requirements, evaluating supplier responses on price, capability, capacity, lead time, and quality
  • Drive cost savings initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, contract renegotiation, and value engineering
  • Manage supplier performance against established KPIs including on-time delivery (OTD), quality, responsiveness, and cost
  • Resolve supplier issues including late deliveries, quality non-conformances, and capacity constraints; escalate appropriately
  • Conduct supplier risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to ensure continuity of supply
• Material Planning & Production Coordination (~10%):
  • Read and act on MRP output to drive purchase order creation, vendor release schedules, and material flow to the production floor
  • Maintain accurate planning parameters in SAP/ERP including lead times, safety stock, reorder points, and minimum order quantities
  • Cook daily with production supervisors, manufacturing engineering, and quality teams to align material availability with production schedules
  • Support forecast-driven planning in a low-volume, high-mix aerospace manufacturing environment
  • Track inventory levels and drive corrective actions to prevent shortages and excess

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of experience in a Buyer, Buyer/Planner, or Strategic Sourcing role within a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience managing a supplier book of $25M or greater
• Proven track record of supplier relationship management, contract negotiation, and Long-Term Agreement (LTA) execution
• Working knowledge of SAP, Oracle, or comparable ERP/MRP systems
• Experience leading mass RFQ events and conducting cost savings analysis
• Strong understanding of low-volume, forecast-driven production environments
• Experience managing supplier performance through KPIs (OTD, quality, cost)
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Willingness to travel to supplier sites as required (estimated 10–20%)
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis
• Legal authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship
• Must meet ITAR eligibility requirements

Is a Plus

• Aerospace, defense, or military supplier industry experience, or familiarity with these supplier networks
• Experience in a low-volume, high-mix precision manufacturing environment
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality management system requirements
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, or ISM CPSM certification
• Experience with cost reduction methodologies and value engineering
• Prior experience supporting DoD, DLA, or major aerospace prime contractor programs