Job Description Job #220171
Chipton-Ross is seeking a STRATEGIC SOURCING SPECIALIST/BUYER for a direct opportunity in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Position Summary
This role will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, identifying and qualifying suppliers, negotiating commercial agreements, and ensuring a reliable, competitive supply base.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE)- 3-7 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, purchasing, or supply-chain management, preferably within aerospace/space, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
- The ideal candidate must demonstrate experience sourcing for, (and purchasing), aerospace and defense products, such as materials, components, assemblies, and manufacturing services.
Background as a Procurement Specialist or Buyer supporting aerospace and defense programs
- Must be able to work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Operations, and Finance to procure items and services for newly developed products, production programs, while focusing on cost-reduction initiatives and supply-chain risk mitigation.
- Must understand the importance of quality, traceability, schedule, and supplier performance in addition to understanding the unique sourcing requirements associated with aerospace/space, and defense manufacturing..
- Experience negotiating cost/pricing, managing RFQ/RFP activities, including evaluating supplier proposals, identifying new suppliers and bid solicitation.
- Work with suppliers supporting high-reliability and mission-critical applications
- Understand the importance of material traceability, configuration control, quality requirements, and documentation.
- Support sourcing activities involving long-lead and constrained components.
- Work collaboratively with Engineering and Quality when evaluating technically complex components and manufacturing processes.
- Maintain awareness of applicable customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements affecting the procurement of direct materials.
- Support supplier risk assessments and business-continuity planning for critical components.
- Strong supplier negotiation and commercial-analysis skills.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to analyze cost, pricing, lead time, capacity, and supplier performance.
- Experience working with ERP/MRP and procurement systems.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business-analysis tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Program Management.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES- Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for the procurement of direct materials, components, assemblies, and manufacturing services supporting space and defense programs.
- Identify, evaluate, and develop qualified suppliers based on technical capability, quality, capacity, cost, delivery, financial stability, and program requirements.
- Lead RFQ/RFP activities, including supplier identification, bid solicitation, proposal analysis, commercial evaluation, and sourcing recommendations.
- Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, capacity commitments, warranties, and other commercial terms.
- Analyze supplier quotations and cost structures to identify cost-reduction and value engineering opportunities.
- Develop and maintain competitive supplier relationships while establishing appropriate sourcing strategies for critical and high-value commodities.
- Partner with Engineering and Quality to evaluate supplier technical capabilities and support supplier qualification and approval activities.
- Support new product introduction and design-transfer activities by identifying suppliers and establishing sourcing plans for new components and assemblies.
- Monitor and mitigate supply-chain risks associated with long-lead materials, sole-source suppliers, capacity constraints, obsolescence, geopolitical factors, and other potential disruptions.
- Develop alternate-source strategies for critical components and materials where appropriate.
- Manage supplier performance related to cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and capacity.
- Collaborate with Program Management and Operations to identify material requirements, production schedules, forecasts, and critical-path items.
- Support supplier corrective actions and resolution of commercial issues that may affect production or program schedules.
- Maintain accurate sourcing documentation, supplier records, quotations, agreements, pricing, and cost-saving activities.
- Track and report sourcing l
- Support contract negotiations and ensure sourcing activities comply with company policies and applicable customer and regulatory requirements.
- Participate in supplier reviews, business reviews, and supplier visits as required.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and supply-chain processes.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS (DESIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE)- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field preferred.
- Experience sourcing aerospace or defense components such as machined parts, castings, forgings, composites, fasteners, or mechanical assemblies.
- Experience with AS9100-certified suppliers and aerospace quality requirements.
- Familiarity with ITAR-controlled or otherwise export-controlled programs and supply chains.
- Experience with supplier qualification, audits, and supplier development.
- Experience with long-lead-time and single/sole-source components.
- Experience with cost modeling, should-cost analysis, or total-cost-of-ownership analysis.
- Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and production ramp.
- Familiarity with government contracting or customer-specific procurement requirements is a plus.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORSSuccess in this role will be measured through:
- Direct-material cost savings and cost avoidance
- Supplier on-time delivery and lead-time performance
- Supplier quality and corrective-action performance
- Reduction of supply-chain and single-source risk
- Successful qualification of new and alternate suppliers
- RFQ and sourcing cycle time
- Sourcing support for NPI and production ramp
- Contract and pricing compliance
- Achievement of sourcing and program objectives
- Cost and financial analysis
- Supplier relationship management
- Aerospace/defense supply-chain knowledge
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data-driven decision making
- Strong communication and negotiation skills
SHIFT/HOURSFull-Time
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Employment will be contingent on clearing a drug screen and background check. Both must clear prior to start date.
- Candidates responding to this posting must currently possess the eligibility to work in the United States. No third parties please.
For more information, please apply or contact:
LaVada Pulley 800.927.9318 x260
lpulley@chiptonross.com
