Senior Buyer

As a Senior Buyer, you'll lead procurement activities for military and aerospace RF and microwave electronic systems, ensuring compliance with standards like ISO 9001 and AS9100. You'll manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and monitor supply chains to ensure optimal material availability. Collaboration with engineering and production teams is essential to meet project requirements efficiently.

To qualify for the Senior Buyer role, you will need a Bachelor's degree in a relevant business discipline and 5-7 years of experience in strategic sourcing and purchasing, particularly in aerospace and defense sectors. Familiarity with ERP systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office are also required, along with excellent communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

The Senior Buyer plays a critical role in aligning procurement decisions with project needs by negotiating favorable terms with suppliers, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and managing inventories. Your strategic insights into market trends and supply chain conditions help to maintain smooth operations and prevent project delays.

Our Senior Buyers enjoy a competitive salary between $80K and $105K, along with an attractive benefits package that includes PTO, holiday pay, a 401K with company match, profit sharing, and health insurance. Additional voluntary benefits and an annual discretionary bonus further enhance their total compensation.

At our company, Senior Buyers have vibrant opportunities for growth, including leading procurement teams and mentoring junior buyers. By demonstrating professional expertise and strategic vision, you can move into higher management roles or specialize further in procurement directives.

To ensure compliance, I regularly stay updated on standards like ISO 9001 and AS9100 and incorporate these requirements into every procurement process. I also conduct internal audits and training for the team to maintain compliance vigilance.

I focus on building long-term relationships and conducting comprehensive market analysis to understand pricing trends. My strategy involves being transparent about our needs while also being prepared to walk away if the deal doesn’t meet our quality and budget requirements.

I utilize ERP systems to monitor inventory in real-time, setting up alerts for low stock. I analyze consumption patterns and trends to maintain optimal levels while reducing excess or obsolete materials.

I first review the purchase agreement and quality specifications before initiating a conversation with the supplier. I ensure that our feedback is factual and constructive, aiming to resolve the issue collaboratively to enhance future transactions.

I assess the urgency and impact of each project, using project management tools to streamline my approach. Weekly meetings with cross-functional teams help me align priorities and adjust as necessary based on project timelines.

Market trend analysis informs my procurement strategies by identifying potential supply chain risks and opportunities for cost-saving. This proactive approach allows for strategic sourcing and ensuring we always have materials on hand when needed.

I establish open communication channels and hold regular meetings to align our goals. It’s important to foster a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing insights and feedback which facilitates better collaboration.

I have extensive experience using ERP systems for tracking purchase orders, managing supplier data, and generating reports on procurement performance. This expertise helps streamline the purchasing process and enhances decision-making.

In my previous role, I led an initiative to consolidate suppliers, which resulted in a 20% reduction in costs while improving the quality of products received. This required strategic negotiation and building meticulous relationships with fewer suppliers.

I believe in hands-on learning, so I frequently involve junior buyers in complex procurement processes. I provide guidance by sharing knowledge about negotiation tactics and compliance requirements, fostering their professional growth in a supportive environment.