Job Title: Associate Purchasing ManagerJob Code: 38962Job Location: Huntsville, ALJob Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days- totaling 80 hours worked- and have every other Friday off Job Description:The Assistant Purchasing Manager supports the management and execution of procurement activities for materials, equipment, and services in a defense/aerospace environment. This role assists with supplier selection, purchase order and subcontract administration, cost and price analysis, compliance oversight, and supplier performance management in support of U.S. Government, DoD, and commercial programs. The position requires working knowledge of defense procurement practices, including applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), customer flow-down requirements, and internal purchasing policies and procedures.
The Assistant Purchasing Manager works closely with program management, contracts, subcontracts, engineering, quality, operations, finance, and legal teams to ensure procurement actions are executed in compliance with contractual, regulatory, quality, cost, and schedule requirements.
Essential Functions:- Supports procurement operations for defense and aerospace programs.
- Assists with the procurement of materials, services, equipment, and subcontracted work for commercial and U.S. Government-funded programs.
- Prepares, issues, evaluates, and administers purchase orders and subcontracts in compliance with company procedures and FAR/DFARS requirements.
- Reviews purchase requisitions and statements of work to ensure clear requirements, proper documentation, and appropriate sourcing methods.
- Solicits supplier quotes and proposals, supports source selection, and performs price and cost analysis to ensure fair and reasonable pricing.
- Monitors supplier performance and helps resolve quality, delivery, compliance, and other supply chain issues impacting program execution.
- Maintains procurement documentation, tracks key metrics, supports audits and CPSR readiness, and provides guidance on compliance and continuous improvement.
- Requires up to 20% travel.
Qualifications:- Bachelor's Degree with a minimum 6 years prior relevant management experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 4 years of prior related management experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related management experience.
- 5 to 8 years of purchasing, subcontracting, procurement, or supply chain experience in a defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated environment.
Preferred Additional Skills:- A degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Contracts, Operations, Finance or related field.
- Experience supporting DoD, prime contractor, or major aerospace program procurement activities.
- Familiarity with CPSR requirements and purchasing system compliance expectations.
- Knowledge of FAR Part 15, FAR Part 44, and relevant DFARS clauses related to subcontracting and supplier management.
- Experience with cost-reimbursable, fixed-price, and time-and-material procurement environments.
- Familiarity with ITAR, EAR, counterfeit parts prevention requirements, and cybersecurity flow-downs such as DFARS [redacted] or related clauses, as applicable.
- Knowledge of AS9100, DCMA, DCAA, and defense quality/compliance expectations.
- Prior team lead, supervisory, or formal/informal leadership experience.
- Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CPCM, or related certification preferred.
- Working knowledge of FAR, DFARS, and U.S. Government contracting requirements applicable to purchasing and subcontracting activities.
- Experience with purchase order and subcontract administration, supplier negotiations, and procurement file documentation.
- Experience performing price analysis and understanding basic cost analysis principles.
- Familiarity with customer flow-down requirements and procurement compliance expectations for defense contracts.
- Strong understanding of supplier management, delivery assurance, and quality coordination in a regulated manufacturing or program environment.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems and procurement reporting tools.
