Sr. Buyer - Defense & Space Manufacturing

Ralliant•Hollister, CA

About The Position

The Sr. Buyer manages the active supply base to optimize supplier performance and support operational excellence. The role leads problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives, influences stakeholders, and ensures timely ordering and material availability based on approved requisitions. It is accountable for developing and maintaining competitive sources for materials, supplies, and services. The Sr. Buyer executes purchase orders, blanket purchase orders, and other measures to secure long-term supply and fixed pricing; resolves purchase-order discrepancies; and responds urgently to shortages and schedule changes to prevent operational disruption. The role evaluates supplier proposals, develops negotiation plans, completes negotiations with management approval, and documents procurement decisions. It also coordinates supplier requirements with engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams; supports purchasing compliance and audits; and leads supplier performance, corrective action, and continuous improvement activities. The position manages supply-base risks, obsolescence, source transitions, and part qualification; identifies new sources and assesses supplier capabilities; and maintains productive supplier relationships grounded in business ethics and fair dealing.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Business or a related field, or at least 5 years of related experience in lieu of a degree.
At least 3 years of purchasing experience in an aerospace environment or equivalent experience.
At least 3 years of experience working in an MRP environment.
Good negotiating skills.
FAR/DFAR experience.
CPSR and DCMA Small Business Audit experience.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of Kanban.
CPM and/or APICS certification.

Responsibilities

Manage the active supply base to optimize supplier performance and support operational excellence.
Lead problem-solving activities and continuous improvement initiatives, and influence stakeholders.
Order materials based on approved requisitions and ensure availability to meet development and production requirements.
Develop and maintain competitive sources for materials, supplies, and services.
Execute purchase orders and blanket purchase orders, and use other measures to secure long-term supply and fixed pricing.
Identify opportunities for supplier Kanban, safety stock, or vendor-managed inventory and initiate them.
Maintain accurate purchase-order records and promptly resolve discrepancies involving price, lead time, transportation, or terms and conditions.
Manage complex processing and operations, responding urgently to shortages or schedule pushouts to prevent disruption to operations and customer expectations.
Follow company purchasing policies and procedures.
Receive and evaluate supplier proposals, develop negotiation plans, and complete negotiations with management approval.
Document procurement files to demonstrate consideration of factors essential to effective and economical procurement.
Lead negotiations on cost, inventory, and standard terms and conditions; provide price justification and cost analysis; and influence multiple suppliers.
Lead supplier on-time-delivery corrective actions and serve as an escalation point for daily issues.
Perform root cause analysis to support daily management and problem-solving.
Lead audit initiatives on standard work, train other buyers, and mentor and develop standard work.
Conduct compliance activities supporting corporate and business requirements.
Proactively manage material obsolescence and lifecycle events, resolve supplier feedback, and troubleshoot system messages.
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 and Small Business guidelines and participate in related audits.
Lead or facilitate continuous improvement events.
Understand supplier supply chains and take action to mitigate risk; monitor market, business-cycle, scarcity, and surplus conditions.
Coordinate source-selection decisions with other company activities as required.
Develop solutions to shortages, cost issues, or pushouts through collaboration, alternatives, and innovation.
Use knowledge of scorecard ratings and SCARs; identify new sources and perform basic capability assessments.
Manage source transitions and part qualification.
Develop and maintain good supplier relations by adhering to high standards of business ethics and fair dealing.