Sr. Buyer

Buyer IV

Buyer IV is a senior‑level procurement professional responsible for leading complex sourcing initiatives, developing supplier strategies, and ensuring continuity of supply for critical materials and services. This role provides advanced procurement expertise, mentors junior team members, and partners closely with leadership to drive cost savings, supplier performance, and operational efficiency. The Buyer IV demonstrates a high degree of independence, initiative, and judgment in executing procurement strategy while maintaining compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.

Founded in 1849, Ducommun is the oldest company in California. Starting as a hardware supply store during the California Gold Rush and eventually assisted in the birth of the aerospace industry in Southern California by providing aircraft aluminum to early aerospace pioneers like Lindbergh, Douglas and Lockheed.

Today Ducommun is a global provider of innovative manufacturing solutions for customers in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. We specialize in electronic and structural systems, producing complex products and components for commercial aircraft platforms, mission‑critical military and space programs, and sophisticated industrial applications.

Our Facility in Carson, CA is our Engineered Products Group location, which houses our Human Machine Interface, Motion Control Device, Radio frequency Departments.

• Lead negotiations for high‑value, complex contracts including long‑term supplier agreements, strategic partnerships, and multi‑year commitments.
• Develop and implement supplier management strategies, including performance scorecards, risk assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers to ensure competitive cost, quality, and delivery performance.
• Drive cost‑reduction and value‑improvement initiatives across the supply base.
• Analyze market trends, commodity pricing, and supply chain risks to inform procurement strategies and decisions.
• Develop and oversee category management strategies for key spend areas.
• Resolve escalated supplier issues related to quality, delivery, or commercial disputes.
• Manage procurement activities that directly impact company profitability, including material cost forecasting and budget planning.
• Maintain documentation of all activities related to requisitions, quotations, and purchases.
• Review requisitions, purchase orders, PRP generated orders for accuracy and conformance with established policies and procedures.
• Confers with individuals who submit requisitions to determine needs and delivery schedules.
• Utilise integrated ERP system to perform transactions for creating purchase orders, purchase order changes, inquiries, printing reports, entering of data, resolving exceptions, and any other functions as trained and instructed.
• Consult catalogs, Internet, Sr. Buyer, and other sources of information to find sources of supply, obtain prices and specifications. Investigate potential suppliers and recommend those most desirable.
• Verify invoices from suppliers with purchase orders and approve invoices for payment.
• Resolve any discrepancies.
• Review purchase order claims and follow through on their resolution.
• Establish good vendor relations and serve as a liaison between company and suppliers for resolution of problems. Evaluate vendor performance.
• Contact vendors, place orders, verify that supplier or product is approved, negotiate price, negotiate delivery schedule and payment terms and other conditions.
• Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to Buyers I–III, supporting their professional development and procurement effectiveness.
• Serve as acting lead in the absence of the Purchasing Manager, ensuring departmental goals and priorities are met.
• Lead cross‑functional sourcing teams to align procurement activities with company objectives.
• Monitor procurement activities of Buyers and Jr. Buyers, direct and help them as needed, and assist with their training and development.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Windows 365) and experience with integrated ERP…