Buyer – Defense Procurement
Contract: 6-month contract-to-hire
Compensation: $44–$47/hour, plus PTO and optional benefits
Schedule: 9/80 schedule with an 8:00 a.m. start time
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with a minimum of 3 days onsite per week
Industry: Aerospace & Defense / Government Contracting
Position Overview
HRU is seeking an experienced Buyer – Defense Procurement to support purchasing and supplier management activities for Department of Defense (DoD) programs. This role is responsible for sourcing materials, equipment, and services, negotiating supplier agreements, managing purchase orders, and ensuring compliance with government contracting regulations and internal procurement policies.
The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with Oracle ERP, Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSR), and Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) requirements. A strong understanding of FAR and DFARS regulations, purchasing system compliance, and procurement documentation is essential.
This is a 6-month contract-to-hire opportunity offering a hybrid work arrangement, with at least three days per week onsite.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement & Purchasing
- Manage the procurement of materials, equipment, and services supporting government and defense programs.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders to establish purchasing requirements, sourcing strategies, and delivery schedules.
- Prepare, issue, and evaluate Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), and Requests for Information (RFIs).
- Create, issue, and manage purchase orders using Oracle ERP.
- Monitor purchase order status, supplier performance, and delivery schedules to meet program requirements.
Supplier Management & Negotiations
- Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers based on capabilities, pricing, quality, and delivery performance.
- Negotiate pricing, contractual terms, conditions, and delivery commitments.
- Conduct cost and price analyses to determine price reasonableness and support purchasing decisions.
- Maintain supplier relationships and resolve pricing, performance, quality, and delivery issues.
Government Contracting & Compliance
- Ensure procurement activities comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), and applicable government contracting requirements.
- Support Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSR), including documentation, audit preparation, compliance reviews, and corrective actions.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records in accordance with DCMA requirements and internal procedures.
- Assist with internal and external procurement audits and address compliance gaps.
- Identify procurement risks and recommend process improvements to strengthen purchasing system compliance.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Reporting
- Partner with program management, engineering, finance, contracts, and quality teams to support program purchasing needs.
- Conduct market research to identify qualified suppliers and evaluate pricing and sourcing opportunities.
- Track procurement expenditures, supplier performance, and purchasing metrics.
- Prepare reports and documentation covering procurement status, supplier evaluations, cost analyses, and compliance activities.
Required Qualifications
- Experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management within the defense industry or a government contracting environment.
- Hands-on experience with Oracle ERP for purchasing and procurement activities.
- Direct experience supporting or participating in CPSR activities, including purchasing documentation, compliance, and audit preparation.
- Experience working with DCMA requirements, oversight, or procurement compliance activities.
- Strong understanding of FAR and DFARS regulations and their application to government contractor purchasing systems.
- Experience preparing and evaluating RFQs/RFPs, assessing supplier proposals, and negotiating purchasing agreements.
- Experience conducting cost and price analyses and maintaining compliant procurement documentation.
- Strong organizational, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate effectively across multiple departments.
- Ability to work onsite at least three days per week.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or a related field.
- Experience supporting DoD programs or aerospace and defense manufacturing operations.
- Experience participating in DCMA purchasing system reviews or developing and implementing CPSR corrective action plans.
- Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM).
- Experience with supplier performance management, procurement audits, and purchasing system process improvements.
Additional Requirements
- U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, if required by the program.
- Willingness to work a hybrid schedule with a minimum of three onsite days per week.
- Availability to work an 8:00 a.m. start time on a 9/80 schedule.
HRU is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
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