STRATEGIC SOURCING SPECIALIST/BUYER

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.

• 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.

• 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<Pls, including savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, lead-time improvements, and risk-reduction initiatives.
• 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.

• 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.

Success 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

• Supplier competitiveness

• Sourcing support for NPI and production ramp

• Contract and pricing compliance

• Achievement of sourcing and program objectives

• Core Competencies

• Strategic sourcing

• Supplier negotiation

• Cost and financial analysis

• Supplier relationship management

• Aerospace/defense supply-chain knowledge

• Risk management

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Data-driven decision making

• Project management

• Problem solving

• Attention to detail

• Strong communication and negotiation skills

Full-Time

• 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.