Buyer 3

Position Summary

The Buyer III is a strategic partner who mentors junior staff and manages the most critical vendors and is a subject matter expert responsible for the lifecycle management of complex products and services. This role provides leadership within the Purchasing team and partners with Strategic Sourcing to drive long-term strategies and manage vendor performance and relationships.

This role will specifically be responsible for ensuring procurement requirements of the AERO Group Part 21 efforts, with a focus on the Metrea Aircraft Integration Center (MAIC) Part 145 Repair Station. This includes improving and maintaining all aspects of our MAIC purchasing operations, IAW higher level enterprise standards and guidance. This role will be responsible for ensuring purchasing requirements that are derived from engineering data, requirements entered into the ERP, required vendor audits, developing vendor relationships and facilitating purchasing transactional relationships.
What You'll Do

• Identify material needs, vendor qualification requirements, create and manage RFQs, negotiate pricing, lead time, and other operational requirements and place and manage purchase orders
• Support the negotiation of high value, Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) and Master Service Agreements (MSAs)
• Monitor and track purchase order status and proactively expedite shipments to meet aircraft entry to service, maintenance production schedules and AOG requirements
• Perform cost analysis and market research to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve procurement strategies
• Conduct macro-economic analysis and monitor industry and geopolitical trends to anticipate fluctuations in pricing and availability of aircraft components and key raw materials
• Serve as the primary procurement voice in FILE and Operations meetings to align operations and maintenance production schedule targets with vendor capacity
• Proactively resolve discrepancies between purchase orders and invoices, handle returns for defective materials and resolve supply chain bottlenecks
• Build and maintain relationships with vendors and assess their performance
• Identify underperforming critical vendors and participate in cross-functional "Tiger Teams" (e.g., Quality, Engineering, Logistics) to improve their manufacturing processes
• Ensure all purchasing activities comply with relevant aerospace industry standards, regulations, and company policies
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve overall procurement performance

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent demonstrated experience required, MBA or specialized Master's preferred
• 5-10+ years' procurement experience with heavy emphasis on aerospace/aviation
• Demonstrated experience negotiating high value contracts and strategic sourcing
• Demonstrated mitigation of global supply chain risks
• Demonstrated competence in aerospace manufacturing processes and/or aircraft systems
• Knowledge and understanding of Aviation Part Numbers/Alternate Part Numbers and National Stock Numbers
• Demonstrated proficiency in understanding the documentation required for a part to be "airworthy." (e.g., FAA Form 8130-3)

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• Extensive and demonstrated utility with typical Business Software applications (Excel, Power-Bi, Teams, etc.)
• Seasoned commercial awareness
• Experience interacting with and counselling senior business leaders
• Demonstrated ERP/MRP Proficiency through managing assigned parts, item masters, vendor records, and running reports to evaluate and forecast requirements to drive material availability to the highest levels while optimizing cost and inventory levels

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical plan options
• HSA/FSA accounts
• Dental and vision coverage
• 6% employer 401(k) match
• Fully paid parental leave for all new parents
• Generous PTO
• Life and disability insurance
• Long-term and Short-term disability coverage
• AD&D Coverage
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on-call and available, as business needs require.
Work Environment

This job operates in an office, aircraft hangar and warehouse setting.
Travel

Ability to travel up to 10-20%, including International.

Base Pay Range

The compensation range shown below is a good faith estimate and reflects the expected base pay for this position upon hire. This is just one component of Metrea's overall approach to total rewards and final compensation decisions, including the ultimate salary or hourly rate agreed upon, may vary depending on factors such as job location, job-specific knowledge, skills, experience, and the overall negotiated compensation package. Eligible full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, wellbeing, and long-term success.

Pay Range

$95,000-$105,000 USD