Senior Buyer (Temp to Hire)

Crane Company • Burbank, CA

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Buyer is a subject matter expert in materials planning and procurement, responsible for managing all aspects of purchasing components from suppliers to ensure timely delivery of parts to support production needs. This role serves as the communication and logistical link between Value Streams, Supervisors, Marketing, Master Scheduling, and Purchasing, while driving continuous improvement initiatives and fostering supplier relationships. Please note that is position is a TEMP - HIRE opportunity.

About Crane: Crane Aerospace & Electronics supplies critical systems and components to the aerospace and defense markets. You’ll find Crane Aerospace & Electronics in some of the toughest environments: from engines to landing gear; from satellites to medical implants and from missiles to unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Every 1.2 seconds, product built at our Crane Aerospace & Electronics Burbank facility is stopping aircraft – delivering passengers and military personnel safely to their destination. Home to our Landing & Cabin Systems team, Crane A&E’s brake control systems and premium cabin actuation solutions are flying on tens of thousands of aircraft throughout the world. You’ll join a business with a long track record of engineering excellence, set in the wonderful town of Burbank filled with great community atmosphere, schools, weather and no shortage of entertainment. Start the next chapter of your career with Crane Aerospace & Electronics!

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience buying in a similar industry or demonstrated equivalent knowledge of supply chain function through work experience or school
• In-depth knowledge of the manufacturing process used in the operating unit of assignment
• Working knowledge of buying, and ordering procedures
• Working knowledge of production planning, material requirements planning and Kanban systems
• Working knowledge of computer systems that support production, e.g., inventory control, purchasing, production scheduling and Materials Requirement Planning (MRP)
• Well-developed skill in communicating with others.
• Proficiency in Excel and Word and ability to work with Access databases
• Ability to coordinate materials and production schedules with multiple teams, solve urgent problems associated with the manufacture of products and document and communicate production outcomes and trends
• Ability to perform math and logic computations requiring sequencing of times, critical incidents, and numeric information
• Ability to negotiate changes with vendors and manufacturing teams
• BA or BS degree in Supply Chain, Business, or Materials-related field
• This position may require access to Controlled Data or Information. Where the position requires such access only US Persons will be considered. As a US Department of Defense contractor, we are bound by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment

Responsibilities

• Perform material requirements planning through close coordination with manufacturing personnel and external suppliers to support the Value Stream.
• Communicate priorities and schedule changes to Outside Processing Suppliers daily to align with production requirements.
• Establish and maintain strong working relationships with suppliers; escalate and communicate common supplier issues to Leadership, Procurement Specialists, and other Buyers.
• Act as a lead within the Value Stream and serve as a liaison between the Value Stream and the Buyer Supervisor.
• Collaborate with the Value Stream to achieve supply chain goals outlined in the value stream roadmap.
• Share best practices across the team and take on additional responsibilities as needed.
• Develop and execute inventory action plans to maintain optimal inventory levels and achieve inventory turns goals for key production components.
• Implement and train teams on pull-based replenishment systems (e.g., Kanban) to improve inventory turns and eliminate part shortages.
• Monitor supplier orders to ensure timely shipment and delivery to support production schedules.
• Drive improvements in supplier performance, including fill rates, quality, and lead times, to meet product mix and production needs.
• Utilize Kaizen and other continuous improvement methodologies to enhance lead times, streamline material flow, and improve organizational efficiency.
• Obtain quotes from suppliers for production materials and Outside Processing operations.
• Negotiate blanket purchase orders and pursue cost reduction initiatives to mitigate adverse Purchase Price Index (PPI) impacts.
• Collaborate with sourcing teams to ensure alignment with best practices, low-cost region sourcing, supplier assessment, and management strategies.
• Publish and maintain a daily shortage report to communicate current delivery information from suppliers.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies promptly to maintain smooth operations.
• Manage supplier quality through the Non-Conforming Report (NCR) process, ensuring minimal production impact by addressing issues with Manufacturing Engineering, Procurement Quality, Supervisors, and Suppliers.
• Work closely with suppliers and Procurement Quality Engineers to resolve Corrective Action Requests (CARs) generated from NCRs.
• Obtain Return Merchandise Authorizations (RMAs) and process return transactions in Oracle (ERP System); follow the Debit Memo process for supplier rework of discrepant materials.
• Support compliance with company policies, including sustainability and ethical sourcing initiatives.
• Participate in cross-functional projects, including system upgrades, process improvements, and supplier development programs.
• Perform any additional tasks assigned by supervisors or management.

Benefits

• Health care, dental or life insurance starting the first day of the month
• 15 days of paid time off that start accruing your first day at Crane and 12 paid holidays per year.
• 401k plan with company match
• eligible after 6 months of employment

What This Job Offers

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