Buyer

Aston Carter•Wichita, KS

2d•$22 - $26•Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer plans, schedules, and monitors the flow of materials through the production cycle to ensure that all required materials are available to support manufacturing operations. This role uses engineering and production schedules to determine purchasing needs, maintains inventory at planned levels through strategic buying practices, and manages supplier relationships to achieve the best combination of quality, cost, and delivery. The Buyer also supports continuous improvement in the supply chain by maintaining accurate data in enterprise systems and developing new supply sources as needed.

Requirements

Experience in purchasing and planning within a manufacturing or aviation environment, typically 2 years or more.
Knowledge of material planning concepts, including Just-in-Time purchasing and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ).
Proficiency with SAP and ERP systems for purchasing, planning, and materials management.
Ability to interpret and work with engineering and production schedules to determine material requirements.
Strong organizational skills to manage multiple purchase orders, suppliers, and deadlines simultaneously.
Attention to detail to accurately maintain bills of material and part or commodity numbers.
Analytical skills to evaluate bids, monitor costs, and assess supplier performance.
Problem-solving skills to resolve discrepancies and address material non-conformances or variances.
Effective communication skills to collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers.

Nice To Haves

Background in supply chain, purchasing, planning, or a related discipline.
Experience working with subcontracts, including monitoring cost, schedule, and scope.
Familiarity with supply chain management principles and inventory control practices.
Ability to develop specifications and requirements for new contract orders.
Experience evaluating vendor reliability and developing alternative supply sources.
Interest in a long-term contract role with potential opportunity to transition to a direct position.

Responsibilities

Plan, schedule, and monitor the movement of materials through the production cycle to meet manufacturing requirements.
Use engineering and production schedules to determine required materials purchases and timing.
Maintain inventory at planned levels through Just-in-Time purchases and the use of Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) principles.
Resolve discrepancies related to materials, orders, deliveries, and documentation in a timely manner.
Create and maintain bills of material (BOMs) and parts or commodity numbers in supply chain management or other enterprise-wide systems.
Ensure material standards are met and work to minimize non-conformances or variances, obtaining approvals when necessary.
Develop specifications and requirements for new contract orders and purchasing agreements.
Gather quotations, examine bids, and make award recommendations based on quality, cost, and delivery criteria.
Monitor the cost, schedule, and scope of assigned subcontracts to ensure best quality at best value.
Evaluate vendor reliability and performance to support consistent, on-time supply of materials.
Identify and develop new supply sources when existing vendors or suppliers are no longer competitive.
Collaborate with engineering, production, and other internal stakeholders to align material planning with operational needs.
Maintain accurate purchasing and materials data in SAP, ERP, and other planning systems.