Tactical Buyer

Thales • Salt Lake City, UT

10d • $61,094 - $101,823 • Onsite

About The Position

Thales is looking for a Tactical Buyer, whose role is to support the procurement function by executing day-to-day purchasing activities that ensure the timely acquisition of goods and services while meeting business, project, and operational requirements. This role is responsible for managing the procurement lifecycle, including supplier quotations, purchase order creation, pricing negotiations within delegated authority, and maintaining accurate purchasing documentation. The Tactical Buyer plays a key role in securing the best overall procurement solution by balancing quality, cost, and delivery while supporting internal stakeholders and ensuring compliance with procurement processes and strategies.

In this position, you will manage daily purchasing activities by requesting supplier quotations, evaluating pricing, negotiating within delegated authority limits, creating and maintaining accurate purchase orders, and ensuring all required documentation, project information, and financial coding are complete. You will collaborate with internal customers and suppliers to resolve purchasing issues, manage supplier disputes, and ensure timely delivery of materials and services that support business operations. Success in this role requires strong organizational and communication skills, attention to detail, sound problem-solving abilities, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering excellent customer service and supporting organizational procurement objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in customer service, order management, sales support, repair administration, supply chain support, or a related customer-facing operations environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field with 1–4+ years of relevant procurement or purchasing experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 0–2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1–5 years of experience requesting supplier quotations, negotiating pricing within Delegation of Authority (DoA) thresholds, issuing purchase orders, and ensuring the accuracy of purchase orders, GL accounts, project numbers, and supporting procurement documentation.
• 1–5 years of experience securing the best procurement solution by balancing quality, cost, and delivery while meeting customer requirements, supporting procurement strategy, and resolving supplier or purchasing-related disputes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, drive assignments to completion, and work effectively with minimal supervision. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Must be a US Person as defined in applicable law and Must be a U.S. Person as defined in applicable law, or otherwise authorized or eligible for authorization, to access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• 3–5 years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience.
• Experience using SAP or other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
• Aviation, aerospace, or electronics manufacturing industry experience.
• Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field.
• Ability to interpret engineering parts lists, technical drawings, and bills of material (BOM).
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across a complex, cross-functional organization.

Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end procurement activities by reviewing purchase requisitions, obtaining supplier quotations, negotiating within Delegation of Authority (DoA) limits, issuing purchase orders, and managing order modifications, cancellations, and rescheduling to meet business and project requirements.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of procurement transactions by maintaining purchase orders, GL accounts, project numbers, supplier information, shipping details, and all required procurement documentation in accordance with established processes and procedures.
• Monitor and expedite procurement orders by obtaining supplier acknowledgements, tracking delivery commitments, resolving delays, and leading recovery efforts to improve on-time delivery (OTD) and overall supplier performance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders, including Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Program Management, Contracts, Planning, Repairs, Finance, and Warehouse teams, to provide timely updates, resolve issues, and support operational objectives.
• Manage supplier performance and procurement-related issues by resolving disputes, supporting accounts payable and invoice discrepancies, conducting RFx activities, participating in integrated project teams, and driving issues to resolution with minimal supervision.
• Support continuous improvement and procurement performance by maintaining departmental KPIs, managing supplier aging metrics, preparing procurement and cost analysis reports, monitoring supplier performance, and leading recovery initiatives and cross-functional improvement efforts when needed.

Benefits

• Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period
• Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program

What This Job Offers

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