Job Purpose
The Strategic Buyer is responsible for purchasing, cost negotiation, and subcontract administration of assigned materials and/or services from approved and qualified suppliers to support required delivery dates at budgeted or lower cost.
Key Accountabilities
- Partner with internal customers to understand business needs, ensure adherence to procurement policies, and review requisitions for accuracy and completeness.
- Lead RFQ processes, analyze supplier quotations, and implement cost negotiation strategies while ensuring compliance with bid requirements and delivering value/risk insights.
- Manage supplier communications regarding orders, changes, delivery, cost, and quality expectations; resolve commercial, quality, and performance issues, and interpret supplier agreements to ensure compliance.
- Execute and manage purchase orders, maintain compliant procurement documentation and audit trails, monitor and expedite deliveries, and support continuous procurement operations and cross-team initiatives.
Qualifications, Experience, and Skills
- Minimum Educational Qualifications: Bachelors Degree or equivalent in Business, Finance, Supply Chain and/or Technical Field
- Minimum Experience: 5-8 years
- Other Job-Specific Skills: Supply Chain Management
Key Performance Indicators
Schedule Performance, Cost Management and Performance, Material Availability for builds, Supplier Quality Performance, Risk and Opportunity Identification, Purchase order management, Process compliance, Risk Management & Mitigation, Internal stakeholder support.
Decisions Expected
This role is expected to drive reliable material availability and supplier performance to ensure program cost, schedule, and technical milestones are achieved. The position influences cross-functional alignment between engineering, manufacturing, quality, and procurement to proactively mitigate supply chain risks before they impact aircraft builds. Success in this role directly contributes to production stability, cost control, regulatory compliance, and overall program execution performance.
Working Conditions
Work Environment
- This position operates primarily in a professional office environment supporting aerospace program activities. The role requires 10-25% travel, depending on program phase and workload surge, to domestic and potentially international supplier facilities for program reviews, performance assessments, risk mitigation, and coordination activities.
- Overtime may be required during periods of program surge, supplier recovery efforts, development milestones, or production ramp activities. Typical work hours during surge periods range from 45-55 hours per week, depending on project demands and assigned scope.
- While not required, proficiency in additional languages such as Japanese, Swedish, Spanish, and/or French is considered beneficial when supporting international suppliers and global program activities.
Physical Requirements
- Incumbents may be routinely exposed to equipment operational noise, heat, cold, dust, and/or aircraft equipment, parts, or fuel odors when visiting manufacturing or supplier facilities.
- Ability to stand, sit, walk, bend, squat, climb ladders, reach, or stretch for extended periods as required by job duties.
- Ability to lift, pull, push, carry, or move items up to 10 lbs. throughout the work shift without assistance.
- Ability to read, hear, speak, and see with no restrictions, as required by job duties.
- Ability to comprehend and adhere to management direction and safety instructions.
- Must work in a safe and professional manner while adhering to all applicable regulatory requirements (FAA, OSHA, DOT, EPA, State, and Federal regulations).
- Must effectively communicate in Business English.