Tactical Buyer

Position Summary

Thales is seeking a Tactical Buyer for the Tactical Buyer position in Salt Lake City, UT. This role supports the procurement function by executing day-to-day purchasing activities that ensure the timely acquisition of goods and services while meeting business, project, and operational requirements.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Execute end-to-end procurement activities by reviewing purchase requisitions, obtaining supplier quotations, negotiating within Delegation of Authority (DoA) limits, issuing purchase orders, and managing order modifications, cancellations, and rescheduling to meet business and project requirements.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of procurement transactions by maintaining purchase orders, GL accounts, project numbers, supplier information, shipping details, and all required procurement documentation in accordance with established processes and procedures.
• Maintain strong relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders, including Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Program Management, Contracts, Planning, Repairs, Finance, and Warehouse teams, to provide timely updates, resolve issues, and support operational objectives.
• Manage supplier performance and procurement-related issues by resolving disputes, supporting accounts payable and invoice discrepancies, conducting RFx activities, participating in integrated project teams, and driving issues to resolution with minimal supervision.
• Support continuous improvement and procurement performance by maintaining departmental KPIs, managing supplier aging metrics, preparing procurement and cost analysis reports, monitoring supplier performance, and leading recovery initiatives and cross-functional improvement efforts when needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in customer service, order management, sales support, repair administration, supply chain support, or a related customer-facing operations environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field with 1–4+ years of relevant procurement or purchasing experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 0–2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1–5 years of experience requesting supplier quotations, negotiating pricing within Delegation of Authority (DoA) thresholds, issuing purchase orders, and ensuring the accuracy of purchase orders, GL accounts, project numbers, and supporting procurement documentation.
• 1–5 years of experience securing the best procurement solution by balancing quality, cost, and delivery while meeting customer requirements, supporting procurement strategy, and resolving supplier or purchasing-related disputes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, drive assignments to completion, and work effectively with minimal supervision.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Microsoft Excel.

Special Position Requirements

• 3–5 years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience.
• Experience using SAP or other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
• Aviation, aerospace, or electronics manufacturing industry experience.
• Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Ability to interpret engineering parts lists, technical drawings, and bills of material (BOM).
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across a complex, cross-functional organization.