Senior Buyer (Aerospace)

TAT Technologies•Tulsa, OK

About The Position

TAT Technologies is a fast-growing, profitable provider of aerospace thermal management, power and actuation products, and repair services. Established in 1969, the company serves leading aerospace companies across commercial, defense, OEM, and MRO markets. Its Tulsa site is the Center of Excellence for heat transfer manufacturing, MRO, and OEM solutions, supporting commercial, regional, and military aircraft worldwide. The Senior Buyer is an experienced procurement professional responsible for strategically managing assigned commodities, suppliers, and critical material requirements. The role involves independently evaluating supply risk, developing sourcing and recovery strategies, negotiating commercial and delivery terms, and protecting production requirements. The Senior Buyer partners with Operations, Planning/SIOP, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and suppliers to communicate material status, manage recovery efforts, and recommend actions that support business performance. The position also presents risks, actions, and solutions to cross-functional teams and leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related discipline preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
10 or more years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or strategic sourcing within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience managing complex suppliers and production material requirements.
Strong experience in supplier negotiation, expediting, material recovery, sourcing, and supplier performance management.
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and ability to interpret purchasing and planning signals.
Ability to analyze data and translate information into procurement actions and business recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across organizational levels.
Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple critical requirements, and make sound business decisions in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in aerospace, aviation, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute procurement strategies for assigned commodities and suppliers to support production, inventory, cost, and business objectives.
Manage the end-to-end purchasing process, including supplier selection, sourcing, negotiations, purchase order management, and issue resolution.
Analyze MRP demand, inventory levels, supplier commitments, and forecast changes to identify and mitigate supply risks, shortages, and excess inventory.
Lead supplier recovery efforts and negotiate improved pricing, delivery schedules, capacity commitments, payment terms, and other commercial agreements.
Evaluate supplier performance and implement corrective actions to improve quality, delivery, responsiveness, and reliability.
Identify, qualify, and develop alternate sourcing opportunities while driving cost reduction and risk mitigation initiatives.
Maintain accurate procurement data, supplier acknowledgments, pricing, lead times, and purchase order schedules to support operational planning.
Manage inventory exposure through pull-ins, push-outs, cancellations, reschedules, and other actions that balance material availability with working capital objectives.
Communicate material status, shortages, risks, recovery plans, and recommendations to cross-functional teams and leadership.
Partner with Operations, Planning/SIOP, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and suppliers to resolve material issues and support business priorities.
Support supplier business reviews, continuous improvement initiatives, capacity planning, and supplier development activities.
Mentor junior buyers and serve as a resource for complex sourcing, supplier, and material management challenges.
Exercise sound business judgment, escalate significant issues with recommended solutions, and perform other supply chain responsibilities as needed.