Senior Buyer

Scope of Role

The Senior Procurement Buyer plays a critical leadership role in sourcing, planning, and procuring materials, components, and services essential for high‑precision aerospace, defense, and electronics manufacturing. This role ensures alignment between procurement strategy, production requirements, regulatory compliance, supplier performance, and business goals. It requires a proactive, analytical, and strategic mindset, with a focus on reliability, quality, cost optimization, and risk mitigation within a highly regulated environment.

The role will provide support to sustain existing operations and develop new products for the site.

• Place purchase orders for materials and confirm delivery with suppliers, expedite material as needed.
• Lead Lean Materials process improvement initiatives.
• Drive inventory reduction, cost savings, and OTD through lean tools and supplier negotiations.
• Coordinate schedules with outside suppliers and internal operations.
• Monitor Kanban Ordering system, resize to current demand patterns.
• Support Customer Service, Product Managers and Engineering as required.
• Support and assist with resolution on quality issues with the quality team and suppliers.
• Develop and execute long‑term sourcing strategies tailored to aerospace, defense, and electronics manufacturing requirements.
• Identify and qualify suppliers with advanced technical and regulatory capabilities, including ITAR, DFARS, AS9100, and Mil‑Spec compliance.
• Lead contract negotiations, strategic agreements, and multi‑year pricing strategies to drive measurable cost improvements.
• Perform market intelligence and risk assessments on commodities, geopolitical factors, and supply continuity challenges.
• Place and manage purchase orders for production materials, electronics components, precision machined parts, and MRO items.
• Drive accuracy and optimization in ERP/MRP systems including demand alignment, lead‑time management, and inventory parameters.
• Partner with operations, engineering, quality, and customer service to ensure on‑time delivery and readiness for production.
• Strengthen and manage Kanban, JIT, and Lean replenishment systems to improve material flow and reduce inventory levels.
• Collaborate with Quality teams to resolve supplier quality issues and support lead corrective action for aerospace and electronics standards.
• Lead supplier performance reviews, audits, and ongoing assessments using best‑practice supply chain methodologies.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance procurement processes, supplier performance, and operational efficiency.
• Analyze and drive improvements in procurement KPIs such as MCO, PPV, supplier OTD, inventory turns, DOI and cost‑reduction impact.
• Assist with VAVE projects for cost improvement initiatives.
• Work with Production Planning team on monthly schedules to ensure material(s) availability in order to achieve monthly AOP plan.
• Resolve any accounting discrepancies.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business or related field, experience in manufacturing, preferably, planning OR 5 years minimum relevant manufacturing experience.
• 3+ years of progressive procurement or supply chain experience in aerospace, defense, or electronics manufacturing.
• Strong technical background, combination of education and work experience.
• Ability to read blueprints, technical specifications, and manufacturing drawings.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP/Kanban systems (Oracle preferred).
• Strong analytic skills, a high degree of Microsoft Excel knowledge is required.
• Good organizational skills and problem‑solving abilities.
• Demonstrated negotiation, analytical, and supplier‑development skills.
• Ability to analyze data, form strategic plans and execute at a tactical level.
• Understanding of concepts in a Lean Manufacturing Environment and Kanban Supply Chains.
• Preferred understanding of AS9100, ITAR, DFARS, and other regulatory requirements.
• Self‑starter, change agent, and problem solver with a strong sense of urgency.
• US Citizen, Permanent Resident or Green Card holder (for…