Buyer / Procurement Specialist

Gauss Management Research & Engineering•Ogden, UT

About The Position

The Buyer / Procurement Specialist plans and executes purchases of materials, components, hardware, outside services, and supplies supporting GMRE defense and aerospace programs. The position owns assigned purchases from requisition through receipt and closeout, balancing cost, schedule, quality, and compliance. Working with Planning, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Inventory, Finance, and Program Management, the Buyer maintains material availability and complete, audit-ready procurement files. The role operates with limited supervision within delegated authority and escalates technical, contractual, quality, security, financial, and supply risks as needed. The Buyer sources aerospace interconnect and harness materials and manages supplier relationships and purchasing data. The position coordinates with Engineering and Quality on technical or quality issues, monitors supplier performance and supply risks, and supports onboarding, evaluation, surveillance, audits, and customer reviews. It applies relevant contractual, quality, cybersecurity, traceability, and record-retention requirements with guidance from appropriate functional authorities. The position is performed primarily in an office environment, with routine interaction in production, stockroom, receiving, and inspection areas. Occasional travel, generally up to 10%, may be required. The position may occasionally require responding to urgent supplier or production issues outside the normal work schedule.

Requirements

Three or more years of purchasing, procurement, or supply-chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to solicit and compare quotes, negotiate commercial terms, perform price analysis, issue and administer purchase orders, and follow orders through delivery and closeout.
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.
Ability to read and interpret bills of material, manufacturer part numbers, drawings, specifications, revision information, quality notes, and delivery requirements.
Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
High attention to detail and ability to manage competing priorities, changing production needs, and time-sensitive supplier issues with limited supervision.
Ability to work effectively and professionally with suppliers and cross-functional teams while protecting confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to maintain regular attendance and punctuality and respond appropriately to urgent supplier or production needs.
Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance when required by the position or assigned program.
Must work within formally delegated authority and obtain required approvals before accepting deviations, substitutions, nonstandard terms, or commitments above authority limits.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace, defense, electronics, or another regulated-industry experience.
Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, finance, operations, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
Experience buying electrical interconnect, wire-harness, electronic, mechanical, or aerospace components and services.
Working familiarity with FAR/DFARS procurement, DPAS priorities, CPSR expectations, ITAR/EAR controls, AS9100 environments, and government-contract flow downs.
Experience with a manufacturing ERP/MRP system and purchasing data analysis or dashboards.
Professional certification or coursework such as CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, or government-contract purchasing training.

Responsibilities

Review purchase requisitions, bills of material, drawings, specifications, approved-source requirements, quantities, need dates, and revision levels before requesting quotes or placing orders.
Prepare and issue requests for information, quotation, or proposal; seek competition when practicable; evaluate supplier responses; and document supplier selection rationale and applicable requirements.
Negotiate price, lead time, delivery, payment terms, minimum order quantities, warranties, and other commercial terms within delegated authority.
Create and administer purchase orders in the ERP/MRP system, including applicable terms, quality clauses, contract flow downs, delivery schedules, and change documentation.
Manage purchase orders through acknowledgment, status follow-up, expedites, changes, receipt and invoice issue resolution, returns, and closeout.
Maintain current promise dates and purchasing data for production schedules, shortage reports, program forecasts, and cash requirements.
Source aerospace interconnect and harness materials, including wire and cable, connectors, contacts and terminals, back shells, splices, sleeving, heat-shrink products, labels, fasteners, and related assembly hardware.
Verify manufacturer part numbers, specifications, revisions, approved supplier or manufacturer status, traceability, shelf life, and certificate requirements before award.
Coordinate with Engineering and Quality to resolve part-number discrepancies, substitutions, source changes, deviations, nonconforming material, and supplier corrective actions; obtain required approval before technical changes.
Develop qualified alternate sources when permitted and monitor supplier delivery, quality, responsiveness, pricing, capacity, and corrective-action performance.
Identify and escalate long-lead, allocation, single- or sole-source, counterfeit-part, obsolescence, minimum-buy, and capacity risks affecting production or program milestones.
Support supplier onboarding, evaluation, surveillance, and site visits with Quality and other stakeholders.
Execute assigned procurements in accordance with GMRE procedures, delegated authority, prime-contract requirements, and applicable regulations and customer requirements.
Prepare complete procurement files, including competition or source rationale, market research, price analysis, negotiation documentation, representations and certifications, approvals, and correspondence.
Perform and document price analysis and obtain additional review when cost analysis or certified cost or pricing data may be required.
Apply and verify required contractual, quality, cybersecurity, traceability, and record-retention flow downs with guidance from appropriate functional authorities.
Support internal audits, customer reviews, and Contractor Purchasing System Review readiness by maintaining accurate, timely, retrievable records and correcting identified gaps.
Serve as the primary commercial contact for assigned suppliers and partner with Receiving and Accounts Payable to resolve discrepancies.
Use data to identify opportunities for cost reduction, lead-time improvement, supplier consolidation, process standardization, and stronger purchasing controls.
Perform other related duties consistent with the position's purpose and level of responsibility.