Tactical Buyer

About the role

The Tactical Buyer is responsible for managing day‑to‑day procurement activities, monitoring demand, issuing RFQs, negotiating pricing, and ensuring timely placement and management of purchase orders to support uninterrupted material flow. The role must maintain full compliance with U.S. Government procurement regulations, keep accurate purchasing data in Oracle, and provide reliable delivery commitments to internal stakeholders. The buyer also resolves operational issues such as invoice discrepancies, RIHOLDs, NCRs, and ECO‑driven changes by coordinating with suppliers, Receiving, Quality, and Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Monitor demand daily, issue RFQs promptly, and negotiate pricing to minimize cost increases and support financial performance.
• Place, manage, and expedite purchase orders; maintain a clear PO log and resolve overdue, unconfirmed, or exception‑driven orders.
• Maintain audit‑ready compliance folders; ensure all procurement activities tied to U.S. Government contracts and DPAS‑rated orders comply with ITAR, EAR, FAR, DPAS, and related regulations, including strict control of technical data and supplier documentation.
• Provide timely and reliable delivery commitments to internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data—including supplier information, pricing, and lead times—in Oracle.
• Investigate and resolve invoice holds and price/quantity discrepancies to ensure timely payment and prevent supply interruptions.
• Process ECO notifications, communicate updates to suppliers, and update purchase orders to align with revised engineering requirements.
• Process NCRs by coordinating supplier RMAs and ensuring timely RTV transactions.
• Work closely with the Receiving team to resolve RIHOLDs promptly.
• Utilize digital supply chain tools and analytics platforms to enhance efficiency, transparency, and data‑driven decision making.
• Engage the Strategic Procurement team to initiate negotiations on contracts, pricing, and terms for competitive, compliant long‑term agreements.
• Execute sourcing strategies for assigned commodities to drive cost savings, reduce risk, and strengthen supplier capability.
• Maintain and update the SOTIF database, monitor supplier KPIs, and drive performance improvements as needed.
• Manage supplier relationships within assigned categories by holding regular weekly/monthly calls with critical suppliers, reviewing performance, risks, and open actions, and reviewing the weekly Open Order Report to ensure on‑time delivery and issue resolution.
• Support plant inventory targets through effective coordination and collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Collaborate with planning, production, engineering, and quality teams to support component gating, engineering changes, and inbound material issue resolution.
• Support plant and divisional project initiatives by contributing procurement expertise, ensuring timely execution of assigned tasks, and providing cross‑functional assistance.

Qualifications

• Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 1 year of supply‑chain experience in manufacturing, or Associate’s degree and 3 years of experience, or High School diploma/GED and 5 years of experience. Must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future. No relocation assistance; candidates must reside within 50 miles of the Orchard Park, NY facility (Active‑Duty Military exempt). Position requires access to ITAR‑controlled information or hardware; applicants must qualify as U.S. Persons under ITAR.
• Preferred Qualifications: Ability to read basic engineering drawings and blueprints; proficient with Microsoft Office; experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle); strong negotiation skills; effective communication; ability to work under pressure with a strong sense of urgency and prioritize tasks in a fast‑paced, time‑sensitive environment.

Pay

Annual salary range: $69,000 – $101,000 (guideline; actual salary based on skills, experience, qualifications, market and business considerations).

Benefits

• Health and welfare benefits
• Retirement benefits
• Paid and unpaid time away from work
• Additional programs and options may vary based on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and collective bargaining agreements.