05435 - Purchasing Specialist

Purchasing Specialist

Employment Type: Direct Hire
Position Type: Full-Time, Salaried
Salary Range: $90,000–$100,000 annually
Annual Bonus: 10%
Experience Required: Minimum 6 years of progressively responsible purchasing or procurement experience
Education Required: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field
Travel Requirements: Quarterly international travel to Scotland

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Specialist to manage strategic sourcing, supplier development, contract negotiation, and procurement activities supporting aerospace manufacturing operations.

The selected candidate will source complex materials, components, equipment, and services while balancing cost, quality, delivery, and compliance requirements. This role works closely with suppliers, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and senior leadership to improve purchasing performance and supply reliability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard suppliers based on technical capabilities, capacity, quality, pricing, and delivery performance.
• Develop sourcing strategies and alternate supply sources to reduce costs and procurement risk.
• Prepare statements of work, bidder lists, requests for quotation, and requests for proposal.
• Conduct supplier site visits and support supplier qualification and certification activities.
• Evaluate quotations and negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, quality requirements, contractual terms, and service commitments.
• Issue and administer purchase orders, supplier contracts, and purchasing agreements through fulfillment and closeout.
• Coordinate domestic and international procurement, including applicable import and export requirements.
• Monitor supplier performance and coordinate corrective actions to prevent production disruptions.
• Resolve quality discrepancies, delivery problems, damage claims, rejected materials, returns, over-shipments, cancellations, and engineering changes.
• Maintain accurate supplier lead times, purchasing records, contracts, and procurement documentation.
• Prepare purchasing reports, cost analyses, supplier evaluations, and recommendations for management.
• Analyze market conditions, purchasing trends, and sourcing alternatives to support procurement decisions.
• Lead or support continuous improvement projects involving supplier development, cost reduction, purchasing methods, and supply chain performance.
• Ensure purchasing activities follow applicable government, commercial, aerospace, and company requirements.
• Support procurement reviews, audits, and resolution of compliance concerns.
• Establish project goals and sourcing priorities with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Present purchasing risks, supplier performance, and recommendations to suppliers, internal teams, and senior leadership.
• Mentor less experienced purchasing personnel as needed.
• Maintain current knowledge of purchasing practices, supplier markets, and procurement technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible purchasing, procurement, or strategic sourcing experience.
• Experience purchasing complex technical materials, components, equipment, or services.
• Demonstrated experience identifying, evaluating, qualifying, and onboarding suppliers.
• Thorough knowledge of purchasing principles, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract administration.
• Proven ability to negotiate pricing, contractual terms, delivery requirements, and supplier agreements.
• Experience monitoring supplier performance and resolving procurement challenges.
• Knowledge of applicable procurement regulations, compliance requirements, and business practices.
• Ability to evaluate purchasing decisions involving cost, quality, delivery, risk, and operational needs.
• Experience applying continuous improvement methods to purchasing or supply chain operations.
• Proficiency with standard business software and purchasing or materials management systems.
• Familiarity with electronic data interchange (EDI), manufacturing resource planning (MRP), or comparable procurement systems.
• Strong analytical skills, including preparation of purchasing reports, cost analyses, and supplier evaluations.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple procurement priorities and complex projects.
• Sound business judgment, strategic thinking, and independent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to represent the organization professionally with suppliers and senior leadership.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to Scotland approximately once per quarter.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or APICS certification.
• Purchasing or strategic sourcing experience in aerospace, defense, or precision manufacturing.
• Experience sourcing engineered components, specialized materials, or technical manufacturing services.
• Experience developing domestic and international suppliers and conducting supplier capability assessments.
• Experience negotiating high-value or technically complex procurement agreements.
• Familiarity with international procurement, import/export requirements, and global supplier management.
• Demonstrated success achieving measurable cost savings or supplier performance improvements.
• Experience collaborating with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Supply Chain teams.
• Experience mentoring purchasing personnel or leading procurement projects.

Work Environment

• Purchasing and supply chain operations supporting aerospace manufacturing.
• Regular collaboration with technical teams, suppliers, and senior management.
• Supplier site visits and business meetings as required.
• Quarterly international travel to Scotland.