Category Buyer - Cowl Systems

Position Overview:

The Category Buyer is a key individual contributor in Mercury’s global direct material procurement organization, focused on highly engineered and complex cowl systems. Reporting to the Category Manager, the Category Buyer helps develop and execute sourcing and supplier management strategies to continuously improve cost competitiveness, quality, delivery, and innovation to support Mercury’s global manufacturing operations and product development efforts.

Supplier Management

• Proactively support the Category Team in strategy development, execution, and communication
• Visit current and potential suppliers to audit capabilities, build personal category expertise, and stay closely connected to state of their business, operations, industries, and markets
• Conduct in-person business reviews with suppliers to drive engagement and execution of continuous improvement activities
• Facilitate Requests for Quote, analyze quotations, and build supplier selection recommendations inclusive of total landed costs, supplier capabilities, and category strategies
• For new or changing component designs, obtain supplier quotations and robust component feasibility input to ensure that costs are fully understood and manufacturability fully addressed prior to award or kickoff
• Execute purchase orders, requisitions, and appropriation requests for the purchasing of tooling, components, and services as required
• Drive continuous improvement in supplier performance for quality, delivery and cost, leveraging Mercury’s Supplier Progress Review system

Project Management

• Utilize effective project management tools to ensure timely delivery of responsibilities
• Manage changes as required, Mercury or supplier driven, with effective communication and execution via Mercury’s change management processes
• Develop, align, monitor, and communicate project schedules with suppliers and internal stakeholders to manage risk and ensure on-time execution

Cost Management

• Conduct in-depth analysis of supplier proposals to ensure alignment with contractual terms and conditions and reasonableness based on industry benchmark tools and/or Should Cost models
• Manage tooling lifecycle and costs with assigned suppliers, supported by detailed plans for tool life expectancy, condition monitoring, and plans for timely repair, refurbishment, or replacement that ensures continuity of quality supply
• Support processes to quantify and recover excess costs resulting from supplier performance issues
• Negotiate to obtain the best possible commercial outcome for Mercury in all endeavors
• Support accurate reporting of financials with timely and accurate forecasting of potential future cost changes and diligent use of Mercury’s processes for managing orders and changes

Collaboration

• Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity, procurement/category credibility, and focus on common goals that builds trust with stakeholders
• Support and actively participate in cross-functional discussions with suppliers
• Participate in the decisions being made as part of the team and ensure procurement objectives are understood and aligned cross-functionally
• Drive proactive communication of current concerns and emerging issues across all stakeholders, facilitate plans to resolve
• Collaborate with the category leader to develop, align, communicate, and champion strategies

Diversity of thought and experiences is fundamental when imagining the unimaginable. Certain skillsets/experiences are necessary; however, others can be developed along the way.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in supply chain management or engineering
• Strong technical understanding of highly engineered components
• Proven negotiation skills and experience managing complex supplier relationships
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP), sourcing tools, and data analytics platforms
• Excellent communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills

• Experience with global sourcing and supplier development
• APICS, CPSM, CPIM or Six Sigma certification is a preferred

The anticipated pay…