Procurement Specialist II - 1708

Scientific Applications & Research Associates (SARA), Inc. • Colorado Springs, CO

2d • $70,000 - $100,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Scientific Applications and Research Associates, Inc. (SARA) is hiring a procurement specialist to support its Colorado Springs, Colorado location. The role performs day-to-day purchasing and procurement for systems, products, materials, parts, services, and lower-tier subcontractors, from requisition through purchase-order or subcontract closeout. The specialist supports engineers, physicists, technicians, program managers, and other internal partners, and contributes to supplier communications, pricing, quality, and schedules.

The position includes sourcing and competitive bidding, price and terms negotiation, purchase-order preparation and administration, order expediting, supplier qualification and performance tracking, and coordination of material issues and returns. It also requires applying government-contract purchasing requirements, maintaining compliant purchase files, flowing clauses down to suppliers, and addressing risks involving counterfeit or obsolete products, export controls, cybersecurity, and single-source or long-lead items. The role is on-site in Colorado Springs unless otherwise indicated.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret security clearance. The role may require light physical effort, including standing, sitting, using hands, and carrying or lifting up to 20 pounds. The work environment is indoors, moderately quiet, reasonably clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated; moderate physical hazards may exist. The projected annual salary range is $70,000 to $100,000. The application deadline is December 4, 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field; years of experience may substitute for the degree.
• 6–10 years of experience in government purchasing or procurement.
• Experience with FAR/DFAR compliance.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Outlook and Windows programs, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret security clearance.
• May require light physical effort, including standing, sitting, use of hands, and carrying or lifting up to 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• 10–12 years of relevant experience.
• CPSR experience.
• Active Top Secret DoD clearance.
• Costpoint experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchase orders and subcontracts from requisition through closeout for materials, parts, services, and sometimes lower-tier subcontractors.
• Solicit quotes, conduct competitive bids, and document source selection when competition is required.
• Negotiate price, delivery, terms, and changes; issue purchase orders, amendments, and termination or stop-work notices.
• Manage open orders by expediting, resolving shortages, tracking deliveries, and clearing receiving discrepancies.
• Recommend make-or-buy decisions and single-source justifications when competition is not practical.
• Verify product requirements and coordinate material purchases for programs.
• Review purchase requisitions for clarity, compliance, detail, and completeness, and obtain additional information when needed.
• Prepare purchase orders using Costpoint software.
• Ensure supplier documentation, including terms and conditions and NDAs, is ready before engagement.
• Coordinate vendor returns for material issues.
• Quote and source bills of material at the best price.
• Apply FAR, DFARS, and customer flow-down clauses to purchase orders.
• Classify purchases as commercial, competitive, sole source, rated orders, or orders involving government-furnished property.
• Build and maintain purchase-order files that comply with CPSR or DCMA review requirements, including market research, competition records, price or cost analysis, negotiation memoranda, flow-down checklists, and required consent or notifications.
• Flow down appropriate clauses to suppliers and confirm supplier capability before award, particularly for rated orders, export-controlled hardware, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Qualify and maintain suppliers and track quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
• Identify counterfeit, obsolescence, and single-source risks for long-lead and flight or mission hardware.
• Coordinate first-article inspections, source inspections, and nonconformances with quality, engineering, and contracts.
• Handle export-controlled and ITAR/EAR purchases with appropriate markings, access limits, and supplier statements.
• Work with program managers and engineering on bills of material, need dates, and specification changes.
• Work with contracts on customer consent, advance notification, and purchasing-system procedures.
• Coordinate with receiving, inventory, and finance on three-way matching, accruals, and government property.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, plus other supplemental programs.
• Generous PTO program including vacation, sick, and holiday time.
• Tuition and certification reimbursement.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Employee bonuses.
• 401(k) match and profit sharing.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level