Buyer III - Aero (BUYER006851)

RBC•Tucson, AZ

About The Position

The Buyer III (Senior Buyer) owns procurement execution and supplier delivery performance for assigned suppliers, commodities, and programs. The role converts material requirements into compliant purchase orders, secures and manages supplier commitments, resolves delivery and quality issues, and supports production and program cost and schedule objectives. It works closely with Material Planning, Supplier Quality Engineering, Supply Chain Program Managers, Engineering, and Operations. The Buyer manages purchase orders from placement through closure, including supplier communications, order changes, delivery commitments, documentation, and compliance with pricing, quality, contractual, and flow-down requirements. The role manages RFQs, evaluates quotations, negotiates with suppliers, analyzes pricing, monitors supplier performance, and leads recovery plans as needed. It also maintains audit-ready procurement records in support of company policy and applicable CPSR, FAR, DFARS, customer, and regulatory requirements. The position supports shortage resolution, production readiness, program recovery, proposals, and new-program launches. It provides supplier information for planning and reviews, identifies risks to supply continuity and customer commitments, and contributes to category strategies, supplier selections, agreements, alternate sources, cost reduction, and process improvement. The Buyer also mentors less-experienced Buyers and provides procurement workload coverage. RBC Bearings Incorporated is an international manufacturer of engineered precision bearings, components, and systems for industrial, defense, and aerospace markets. Its subsidiary Sargent Aerospace & Defense supplies precision-engineered customized components. The company describes its culture as grounded in integrity, respect for people, customer focus, teamwork, results focus, and continual improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 7 years of related experience, or equivalent related experience in lieu of a degree.
Working knowledge of FAR/DFAR and experience working with DoD contracts.
Demonstrated experience with purchase-order management, supplier delivery recovery, RFQs, negotiations, and price analysis.
Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with ERP, MRP, procurement, and standard business systems.
Ability to manage competing priorities in a schedule-driven manufacturing environment.
Ability to travel to supplier and company locations as required.

Nice To Haves

Experience purchasing precision-machined parts, engineered components, raw materials, special processes, or complex assemblies.
Familiarity with critical components of valve and hydraulic assemblies.
Familiarity with AS9100, FAI, PPAP, APQP, supplier corrective actions, and configuration control.
CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, or comparable professional certification.
CPSR audit experience.

Responsibilities

Manage the complete purchase-order lifecycle, including placement, acknowledgments, changes, delivery commitments, documentation, and closure.
Ensure purchase orders accurately reflect pricing, quantities, schedules, revisions, quality requirements, contractual terms, and required flow-downs.
Manage daily supplier communications, open orders, past-due recovery, and expediting.
Obtain and maintain credible supplier commitments; communicate delivery risks, recovery plans, and changes to stakeholders.
Issue and manage supplier RFQs; evaluate quotations for price, lead time, capacity, minimum quantities, tooling, validity, and terms and conditions.
Conduct supplier negotiations and price analysis.
Maintain complete, accurate, audit-ready procurement files supporting company policy, CPSR requirements, and applicable FAR, DFARS, customer, and regulatory requirements.
Support material shortage resolution, production readiness, program recovery plans, proposals, and new-program launches.
Provide supplier pricing, delivery, capacity, and risk information for material plans, proposals, budgets, and program reviews.
Manage assigned supplier performance and provide accurate information for supplier scorecards and business reviews.
Lead supplier delivery recovery and supplier recovery plans when necessary.
Support category strategies, approved supplier selections, long-term agreements, alternate sources, and supplier transitions.
Coordinate with Supplier Quality Engineering on supplier qualification, nonconforming material, corrective actions, and quality-related delivery risks.
Identify and escalate supplier capacity, delivery, commercial, compliance, and continuity-of-supply risks before they affect production or customer commitments.
Analyze purchase-price variance and identify cost-reduction, cost-avoidance, and improved-terms opportunities.
Mentor less-experienced Buyers and support procurement standard work, process improvement, and workload coverage.