Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Since 2018, Elevate Aircraft Seating has been enhancing the passenger experience through innovative aircraft seat design and manufacturing. With locations in California, Washington, and Germany we are guided by creativity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to quality.

We are looking for a skilled Buyer to join our team in Huntington Beach, CA. This is an on-site position based in Huntington Beach, CA. We value teamwork, inclusivity, and continuous professional development, and we offer competitive benefits along with opportunities for growth.

Export Control Requirements:

This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

JOB SUMMARY

The Buyer is responsible for managing the day-to-day procurement and supplier activities necessary to support production and ensure the timely delivery of quality materials. Serving as the primary point of contact between suppliers and internal stakeholders, the Buyer manages the purchase order lifecycle from requisition through delivery, monitors supplier commitments and performance, communicates production schedule and engineering changes, and drives resolution of delivery, quality, capacity, and other supply-related issues. The Buyer works closely with Planning, Engineering, Quality, Operations, Logistics, Commodity Management, Finance, Accounting, and suppliers to proactively identify risks, maintain material availability, support financial accuracy, and minimize disruptions to manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES - Essential Functions (Other duties and projects may be assigned or requested.)

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Purchase Order & Material Management

• Manage the purchase order lifecycle from requisition through delivery, including creating and issuing purchase orders, obtaining supplier acknowledgements, maintaining accurate commitments, and monitoring open orders.
• Review current and upcoming material requirements and proactively follow up on overdue or at-risk deliveries to support production schedules and material availability.
• Partner with Planning to align supplier delivery schedules with production requirements and appropriate inventory levels.
• Execute sourcing and quotation activities for non-contracted requirements, as needed, in coordination with Commodity Management and established procurement strategies.
• Participate in daily shortage meetings, provide updates on assigned supplier and material constraints, and drive purchasing actions required to support production needs.

Supplier Management & Performance

• Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for assigned suppliers, developing productive relationships while holding suppliers accountable for delivery, quality, capacity, documentation, and other performance commitments.
• Monitor supplier performance, including on-time delivery, quality, capacity, and supply risk, and drive appropriate follow-up and corrective actions when performance does not meet expectations.
• Proactively identify supplier constraints, delivery risks, and other potential disruptions and coordinate appropriate actions or escalation to minimize impact to production.
• Support supplier capacity and risk assessments and communicate significant concerns to Procurement leadership and appropriate cross-functional stakeholders.
• Monitor applicable purchasing KPIs and strategic goals, communicate performance and risks, and support or facilitate team stand-ups focused on priorities, actions, and performance improvement.

Production Schedule & Change Management

• Communicate production schedule changes to suppliers, including requirements to expedite, reschedule, defer, or cancel material, and obtain updated supplier commitments.
• Manage supplier impacts resulting from schedule changes, including inventory already produced or in process, and coordinate commercial discussions and internal approvals related to potential supplier liabilities or write-offs.
• Communicate approved engineering changes, drawings, and updated requirements to suppliers and confirm implementation against applicable purchase orders and delivery schedules.

Quality & Supplier Compliance

• Coordinate with suppliers and Quality regarding non-conforming material, supplier Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), corrective actions, and other quality-related concerns.
• Ensure suppliers provide required purchasing and quality documentation, including applicable Certificates of Conformance, Certificates of Analysis, First Article Inspection documentation, and other required records.
• Support compliance with applicable aerospace quality requirements, including AS9100 and AS9102, while partnering with Quality on technical quality determinations and resolution.

Cross-Functional Coordination & Issue Resolution

• Serve as a central procurement point of coordination between suppliers and Planning, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Receiving, Logistics, Commodity Management, Finance, Accounting, and other stakeholders to support material availability and production execution.
• Investigate supply-related issues, engage the appropriate functional stakeholders, and drive actions through resolution while ensuring technical decisions remain with the responsible Engineering, Quality, or other functional authority.
• Maintain effective communication across internal teams and suppliers, providing timely updates on material status, supplier risks, schedule changes, and issues that could impact production.
• Partner with Finance and Accounting to research and resolve purchasing-related financial discrepancies, including invoice, pricing, receipt, and purchase order issues, as applicable.
• Participate in Gemba walks and other cross-functional operational reviews to identify material or supplier-related concerns, support corrective actions, and improve purchasing support to production.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and mentoring to Junior Buyers, Purchasing Assistants/Admins, or other developing members of the Purchasing team, supporting consistent processes and knowledge development.

Other

• Maintain a safe, secure and legal work environment, adhering to all Company policies and procedures.
• Protect the confidentiality of the Company’s information and products.
• Contribute to team efforts by performing other job-related duties and projects as assigned or requested.
• Perform other duties and projects as assigned or requested.

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS – Education, Knowledge, and Experience

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent is required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations, or a related field is preferred.

Experience:

• 3+ years of progressively responsible experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or a related role within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing purchase orders, supplier relationships, delivery commitments, and material requirements in support of production.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Planning, Engineering, Quality, Operations, and other manufacturing functions to resolve supplier and material-related issues.
• Aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing industry experience is preferred.
• Experience managing international suppliers and working across multiple time zones is preferred.

Skills:

• Strong supplier relationship management skills with the ability to build productive partnerships while maintaining accountability for delivery, quality, and performance commitments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively coordinate across suppliers, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Operations, and other cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge of purchasing and procurement processes, including purchase order management, supplier acknowledgements, delivery commitments, rescheduling, and material requirements.
• Strong problem-solving and judgment skills with the ability to identify supply risks, engage the appropriate stakeholders, escalate issues when necessary, and drive actions through resolution.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple suppliers, purchase orders, priorities, and changing production requirements simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing supply chain processes and applicable aerospace quality requirements, including AS9100, AS9102, First Article Inspection documentation, Certificates of Conformance, and non-conformance processes.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Office applications, and Microsoft Excel, including the ability to use PivotTables, XLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, and common formulas to analyze purchasing, supplier, and material data and support decision-making.

Preferred Skills/Experience:

• Experience supporting procurement within the aerospace, aviation, or other highly regulated manufacturing industry.
• Experience managing international suppliers and effectively coordinating across multiple time zones.
• Familiarity with aerospace supplier quality and documentation requirements, including AS9100, AS9102, First Article Inspections, Certificates of Conformance, Certificates of Analysis, and Non-Conformance Reports.
• Experience supporting engineering changes and communicating revised drawings, specifications, and requirements to suppliers.
• Experience managing supplier performance, capacity constraints, delivery recovery, and supply risk within a production environment.
• Experience with soft goods, textiles, or similar manufactured commodities is preferred.

Other:

• Extended or irregular hours may be required.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Elevate Aircraft Seating is an “at-will” employer; employment is at the mutual consent of both the employee and the employer, and may be terminated at will for any reason, with or without cause, at any time during employment with the Company.
• As business conditions warrant a change in the operating necessities of the Company, all employees are expected to react productively, handle other essential tasks assigned now or in the future.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES

• N/A

SUPERVISION PROVIDED TO THE POSITION

• Direction with necessary guidance is provided in terms of tasks and craftsmanship and measured based upon how well tasks have been completed. Receives detailed instructions as needed.
• Reports to: Manager, Purchasing

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY

• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility but may provide day-to-day guidance, mentoring, and support to Junior Buyers, Purchasing Assistants/Admins, and other developing members of the Purchasing team.

PROBLEM SOLVING

• Provides solutions to a variety of technical problems of moderate scope and complexity.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, both in reading and speaking.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Elevate Aircraft Seating offers competitive wages and benefits to recognize employees for their work. The base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, experience and take into account internal equity.

Salary Range Transparency: $82,500 - $103,000 annually

Featured Benefits:

• Up to 7% bonus potential (for bonus eligible positions)
• Generous 401(K) matching with immediate eligibility and vesting
• 3 weeks of Paid Time Off
• 12 paid holidays
• Affordable health care plans for yourself and your family
• And so much more!

Other Perks:

• On-site gym
• Free electric car charging stations
• Potential for growth within organization
• Supportive workplace environment with a team-oriented culture