Sr. Strategic Buyer, Sourcing

GKN Aerospace Careers•Garden Grove, CA

19d

About The Position

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 33 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.35 bn.in 2023. There are no limits to where you can take your career.Job SummaryThe Senior Strategic Sourcing Buyer manages end-to-end sourcing strategies and negotiates complex Long-Term Agreements (LTAs). This role leads procurement initiatives for raw materials, services, and capital equipment in support of aerospace and defense manufacturing operations. The position plays a critical role in shaping Statements of Work (SOWs), supporting cross functional teams and ensuring supplier compliance with FAR/DFARS/ITAR regulations. This role focuses on high value, critical aerospace components, driving cost-out initiatives, process improvements and managing supplier performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
7+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement or commodity management experience within aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Expertise in supplier negotiations, cost‑modeling, SOW creation, and contract management.
Strong analytical skills, ability to solve complex problems, and capability to work in a collaborative environment
In-depth understanding of indirect procurement categories and capital equipment sourcing.
Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems, MS Office (especially Excel) fluency in data‑driven decision‑making skills
Working knowledge of ITAR, AS9100, and defense‑industry procurement practices.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience within GKN or similar aerospace manufacturing environments.
APICS, CPSM/CPM, or similar supply chain certification.
LEAN, Six Sigma, or continuous‑improvement background.
Experience leading cross‑functional sourcing efforts or acting as a category lead.
Exceptional presentation and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

Develop, execute sourcing strategies and negotiate multiyear long-term agreements for raw materials, indirect materials, services, tooling, and capital equipment.
Analyze market trends, lead negotiations, supplier agreements and SOWs, focusing on cost, quality, delivery, favorable terms and robust service levels
Evaluate supply‑base capabilities, capacity risks, and cost‑reduction opportunities to guide long‑term decisions.
Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, and program management teams to define clear, complete Statements of Work aligned with technical, quality, and delivery requirements.
Manage contract lifecycles, renewals, and performance against key commercial and operational metrics.
Select qualified suppliers, conduct supplier evaluations, manage supplier performance, build and maintain supplier relationships
Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic suppliers, facilitating performance reviews, recovery plans, and capability improvements.
Drive supplier accountability in cost, quality, delivery, and risk mitigation.
Ability to apply Lean principles (like value stream mapping, 5S, A3, Kaizen, PDCA, root cause analysis) to eliminate waste and make subcontracting processes efficient
Utilize data driven tools to analyze procurement value streams and implement improvements that enhance workflow, reduce rework and improve supplier performance
Ensure adherence to government regulations (FAR/DFARS/ITAR) and AS9100, and defense contracting requirements.
Monitor supply‑chain disruptions and geopolitical factors affecting category performance.