Title: Buyer (Warheads)
Industry: Defense Manufacturing
Location: Stafford, VA - On-site
Compensation: $100,000-$125,000 annually
Relocation: Provided
Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required (ITAR)
Travel: Periodic supplier travel as required
Position Summary
Our client is seeking a Strategic Buyer to manage day-to-day procurement execution and supplier operations across a portfolio of strategically important defense suppliers. The primary focus is the lethality-package supply chain, including suppliers of warheads, Electronic Safe & Arm (ESAF) devices, HOBS, and other critical components.
This role serves as a key interface between the company and strategic suppliers, with direct responsibility for material availability, schedule performance, commercial execution, and timely resolution of supplier issues. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in a technically complex, highly regulated aerospace/defense environment where supplier performance directly affects program schedules and production.
The Strategic Buyer will work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, Operations, Contracts, Configuration Management, and Supplier Quality to translate program requirements into executable supplier actions.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, sourcing, or supplier management.
- Experience in aerospace, defense, missiles, munitions, energetics, or other complex weapon-system supply chains.
- Experience procuring complex electromechanical or energetic components.
- Experience with DoD contracting and defense-industry procurement requirements.
- Familiarity with FAR/DFARS, ITAR, CMMC, or other defense-industry compliance requirements.
- Experience with long-lead, sole-source, or single-source suppliers.
- Experience with supplier recovery, capacity constraints, and production ramp-up.
- Experience working directly with suppliers in a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing purchase orders and supplier delivery commitments.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced program environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
- Ability to work effectively with engineering and manufacturing personnel on technical and schedule-related issues.
- U.S. citizenship.
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications
- APICS/ASCM, CPSM, or similar professional certification.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with strategic suppliers and serve as the primary procurement point of contact.
- Manage day-to-day procurement activities for a portfolio of strategic and critical suppliers.
- Own purchase-order execution, including releases, acknowledgements, changes, expediting, and delivery commitments.
- Monitor supplier delivery performance, open orders, lead times, shortages, and other supply-chain risks.
- Proactively identify potential disruptions and develop mitigation plans with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
- Coordinate supplier recovery activities when deliveries, quality, capacity, or technical issues threaten program schedules.
- Partner with Engineering and Quality to resolve technical, quality, configuration, and documentation issues affecting procurement.
- Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, lead times, payment terms, capacity, minimum order quantities, and other commercial requirements.
- Analyze supplier performance and purchasing data to identify cost, schedule, capacity, and supply-chain improvement opportunities.
- Maintain accurate ERP/MRP purchasing data, including supplier lead times, purchase orders, delivery dates, and material status.
- Participate in supplier business reviews and periodic performance reviews.
- Lead sourcing and supplier-selection activities for new programs and new requirements.
- Lead long-lead material planning and capacity assessments for critical components.
- Track and communicate procurement risks to program and functional leadership.
- Lead contract and purchase-order changes as program requirements evolve.
- Ensure purchasing activities comply with company procedures and applicable government, contractual, export-control, quality, and regulatory requirements.
- Travel periodically to supplier facilities as required.
Cross-Functional Partnerships
- Supply Chain / Procurement
- Program Management
- Manufacturing & Operations
- Engineering
- Quality
- Finance
- Contracts
- Configuration Management
- Supplier Quality
Work Arrangement
This is an on-site position in Stafford, Virginia. Relocation assistance is provided. The role requires periodic travel to supplier facilities as needed to support procurement execution, supplier recovery, capacity planning, and supplier performance.