BUYER III

Aero Simulation, Inc.•Tampa, FL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

For over 40 years, Aero Simulation, Inc. (ASI) has provided quality flight training devices to the US Military. ASI has successfully built numerous training systems with a primary focus on aircrew and maintenance training systems. ASI is a 100% employee-owned engineering and manufacturing company committed to supporting the nation’s warfighters. Being 100% employee-owned directly impacts our culture: it drives our decision-making, motivates our teams, increases our productivity, improves retention and contributes to the future success of our company. Our culture is one where we work hard for our clients and for each other – and we have fun collaborating, sharing experience and expertise, and learning along the way. We strive to deliver exceptional quality, elevate client relationships, and enrich the careers and lives of our employee-owners. As Employee-Owners, we are invested in the success and continued development of each other and the company. The Buyer III is a senior-level procurement professional responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and expediting materials, fabricated components, equipment, and services necessary to support company programs and operations. This position has primary responsibility for the procurement of fabricated parts and requires the ability to interpret engineering drawings, identify qualified suppliers, negotiate pricing and lead times, and ensure materials are delivered in accordance with project schedules, quality requirements, and budget objectives. The Buyer III manages complex procurement activities, develops and maintains supplier relationships, supports supplier performance and development, and ensures purchasing activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, and applicable Government procurement requirements. This position works closely with Engineering, Program Management, Production Control, Manufacturing, Quality, and other departments to identify material requirements, resolve supply chain issues, and support successful program execution. The Buyer III is expected to have a thorough understanding of Buyer I and Buyer II responsibilities and be capable of performing those functions as necessary.

Requirements

Five or more years of progressively responsible purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or related experience preferred.
Experience purchasing fabricated or machined components in an engineering or manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
Experience supporting Government contracts or a Government contracting environment preferred.
Strong knowledge of purchasing, sourcing, supplier management, negotiation, and material planning principles.
Strong understanding of fabricated and machined-part procurement and associated manufacturing processes.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems required; strong Epicor experience highly preferred.
Familiarity with CAD systems and/or the ability to review CAD information is preferred.
Knowledge of Government contracting and applicable procurement requirements is preferred.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and other technical documentation.
Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.
Ability to evaluate quotations and make purchasing decisions based on price, quality, technical capability, lead time, and program requirements.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing project and production requirements.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve supplier, material, and supply chain issues.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to maintain accurate procurement records.
Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Program Management, Production Control, Quality, and suppliers.
Proficiency with Epicor or similar ERP/MRP systems.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Outlook.
Ability to work independently while effectively contributing in a team-oriented environment.
U.S. Citizenship Required: As a federal contractor supporting the U.S. warfighter, it is required that all employees in this role be United States citizens in compliance with government contract and security requirements.
Background Check: Must be able to successfully pass an initial background screening.
Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain an active Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance. The selected candidate will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information, as required by the position.
Work Schedule Flexibility: Occasional overtime and alternate shifts may be required to meet customer schedules, critical deadlines, or program milestones.
Travel Requirements: Must be able and willing to travel domestically and, on occasion, internationally to customer sites, partner locations, or project meetings in support of contract objectives.
Drug-Free Workplace: ASI maintains a Drug-Free Workplace. Applicants and employees are subject to pre-employment and random drug testing in accordance with company policy.
Employment Contingency: All employment offers are contingent upon the successful completion of all background checks, security clearance requirements, and drug-screening results.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Sources and procures fabricated mechanical parts, electrical and mechanical materials, equipment, services, and other items required to support company programs and operations.
Reviews and interprets engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and other technical documentation to understand purchasing requirements and identify appropriate suppliers.
Identifies, evaluates, and develops qualified suppliers based on technical capability, quality, cost, lead time, past performance, and other program requirements.
Solicits and evaluates supplier quotations and negotiates pricing, delivery schedules, terms, and other purchasing conditions to achieve competitive pricing and support program profitability.
Creates and processes requisitions and purchase orders in accordance with established purchasing procedures and approval authority.
Monitors open purchase orders and proactively expedites fabricated parts and other critical materials to support project and production schedules.
Communicates material status, delivery risks, and supplier issues to Program Managers, Production Control, Manufacturing, Engineering, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
Identifies potential supply chain risks and works with suppliers and internal departments to resolve shortages, quality concerns, delivery delays, and other procurement issues.
Continuously researches and develops alternative suppliers to improve pricing, lead times, quality, capacity, and overall supply chain performance.
Builds and maintains effective supplier relationships and supports supplier performance management and development activities.
Maintains accurate purchasing, supplier, material, and procurement records in Epicor and other applicable systems.
Maintains supplier information and documentation necessary to support ISO and other applicable audit and compliance requirements.
Supports purchasing activities associated with Government contracts and ensures compliance with applicable contractual and Government procurement requirements.
Supports inventory and material management activities to ensure required materials are available when needed while controlling cost and excess inventory.
Purchases software, licenses, electrical and mechanical materials, and other commodities as required.
Maintains and supports Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) and Contractor Furnished Equipment (CFE) records and reporting, as applicable.
Collaborates with Engineering on fabricated-part sourcing, supplier manufacturability questions, drawing clarifications, and other technical procurement matters.
Provides guidance and support to Buyer I and Buyer II personnel and assists with procurement priorities and workload as needed.
Performs Buyer I and Buyer II responsibilities as necessary to maintain continuity of procurement operations.
Represents Procurement at project, production, and other internal meetings and attends meetings on behalf of the Procurement Manager when required.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Provides guidance, mentorship, and day-to-day support to Buyer I and Buyer II personnel, sharing procurement knowledge and best practices to support their professional development and increasing levels of responsibility.