Sr. Buyer - Defense & Space Manufacturing

Ralliant•Hollister, CA

10d•$73,100 - $135,700

About The Position

The Sr. Buyer manages the active supply base to optimize supplier performance and support operational excellence. They lead problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives while influencing key stakeholders. The role ensures timely ordering and material availability based on approved requisitions and is accountable for developing and maintaining competitive sources for materials, supplies, and services. This role is responsible for executing purchase orders, blanket purchase orders, and other measures to secure long-term supply and fixed pricing. They identify opportunities for supplier Kan Ban, safety stock, or VMI and initiate them. The Sr. Buyer ensures that purchase order records are accurate and resolves discrepancies regarding price, lead time, transportation, and terms and conditions expeditiously. They manage the execution of complex processing and operations, respond urgently to shortages or push-outs, and resolve them effectively to prevent disruption to operations and customer expectations. The role adheres to all company purchasing policies and procedures, receives and evaluates proposals from potential suppliers, develops negotiation plans, and completes negotiations with management approval. Procurement files are documented to show competent consideration of all factors essential to effective and economical procurement. The Sr. Buyer leads negotiations on costs, inventory, and standard terms and conditions, performs price justification and cost analysis, and has the ability to influence multiple suppliers. Daily tasks include leading supplier on-time delivery corrective actions, serving as a source for escalation for daily issues, performing root cause analysis for daily management and problem-solving, leading audit initiatives on standard work, training other buyers, and leading/mentoring/developing standard work. They conduct all compliance activities to support corporate and business requirements, preemptively manage material obsolescence and lifecycle events, and are responsible for resolving supplier feedback. They fully understand the origin of system messages and can troubleshoot them. The role facilitates change management within the department and externally, coordinates engineering, manufacturing, and quality control requirements with suppliers, and processes FAR/DFAR compliant purchases. Adherence to CPSR guidelines and participation in audit activities, as well as adherence to Small Business guidelines and participation in Small Business Audit activities, are also key responsibilities. The Sr. Buyer leads/facilitates various continuous improvement events, understands and may influence suppliers' supply chains, and takes action to mitigate risk. They develop and maintain competitive sources for materials, supplies, and services, coordinating source selection decisions with other company activities as required. They stay informed about the market, business cycles, scarcity, and surplus conditions, and possess the ability to influence supplier and supply chain performance. They can create solutions to shortages, costs, or push-outs through collaboration, alternatives, and innovation. Knowledge of scorecard ratings and SCARs is important. They identify new sources and perform basic capability assessments, are responsible for source transition activity and part qualification, and develop and maintain good supplier relations by adhering to high standards of business ethics and fair dealing.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Business or related field or 5+ years related experience in lieu of degree
3+ years of purchasing experience in an aerospace environment or equivalent experience.
At least 3 years of working in an MRP environment.
Good negotiating skills.
FAR/DFAR Experience
CPSR and DCMA Small Business Audit Experience
US citizenship is a requirement for this position due to U.S. Government contractual requirements.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of Kanban, a plus.
CPM and/or APICS certification desirable

Responsibilities

Manage the active supply base to optimize supplier performance and support operational excellence.
Champion problem-solving activities, foster a continuous improvement environment, and influence stakeholders.
Ensure timely ordering and material availability based on approved requisitions to meet development/production requirements.
Develop and maintain competitive sources for materials, supplies, and services.
Execute purchase orders, blanket purchase orders, and other measures to secure long-term supply and fixed pricing.
Identify opportunities for supplier Kan Ban, safety stock, or VMI and initiate them.
Ensure purchase order records are accurate and resolve discrepancies regarding price, lead time, transportation, and terms and conditions expeditiously.
Manage the execution of complex processing and operations.
Respond urgently to shortages or push-outs and resolve them effectively to prevent disruption to operations and customer expectations.
Follow all company purchasing policies and procedures.
Receive and evaluate proposals from potential suppliers, develop negotiation plans, and complete negotiations with management approval.
Document procurement files to show competent consideration of all factors essential to effective and economical procurement.
Lead negotiation on costs, inventory, and standard terms and conditions.
Perform price justification and cost analysis.
Influence multiple suppliers.
Lead supplier on-time delivery corrective actions.
Serve as a source for escalation for daily issues.
Perform root cause analysis to facilitate daily management and problem-solving.
Lead audit initiatives on standard work.
Train other buyers.
Lead/mentor and develop standard work.
Conduct all compliance activities to support corporate and business requirements.
Preemptively manage material obsolescence and lifecycle events.
Resolve supplier feedback.
Understand the origin of system messages and troubleshoot them.
Facilitate change management within the department and externally.
Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, and quality control requirements with suppliers.
Process FAR/DFAR compliant purchases.
Adhere to CPSR guidelines and participate in audit activities.
Adhere to Small Business guidelines and participate in Small Business Audit activities.
Lead/Facilitate various continuous improvement events.
Understand and influence suppliers' supply chain, and take action to mitigate risk.
Coordinate source selection decisions with other company activities as required.
Stay abreast of the market, business cycles, scarcity, and surplus conditions.
Create solutions to shortages, costs, or push-outs through collaboration, alternatives, and innovation.
Identify new sources and perform basic capability assessment.
Manage source transition activity and part qualification.
Develop and maintain good supplier relations by adhering to high standards of business ethics and fair dealing.