Buyer - Manufacturing and Supply Chain Purchasing

Supply Chain & Procurement Specialist

Travel: Up to 25% Domestic Travel

Aerospace & Defense

Our client, a leading aerospace and defense organization, is seeking a highly motivated Supply Chain & Procurement Specialist to support critical manufacturing, supplier management, and operational initiatives across the business. This role serves as a key liaison between Engineering, Program Management, Procurement, Production, and Quality, ensuring seamless coordination throughout the supply chain lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have experience working with contract manufacturers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams in a regulated manufacturing environment. This position plays a vital role in supplier qualification, procurement support, risk mitigation, new product introductions, and driving operational excellence throughout the organization.

Lead the identification, qualification, onboarding, and approval of new contract manufacturers, including onsite assessments, audits, verifications, and First Article Inspections (FAIs).

Manage and maintain contract manufacturer approval processes and associated documentation.

Develop and qualify alternate manufacturing sources to strengthen supply chain continuity and redundancy.

Monitor supplier performance and partner with Procurement and Quality teams to implement improvement initiatives.

Maintain strong relationships with contract manufacturers, distributors, and key suppliers to ensure quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness.

Support counterfeit parts prevention efforts and supplier risk mitigation programs.

Monitor supplier approval status and ensure compliance with company, customer, and regulatory requirements.

Support procurement and purchasing activities, particularly for new product introductions and supply continuity initiatives.

Participate in sourcing strategy discussions and make-versus-buy analyses with Procurement, Planning, and Production teams.

Manage and administer in-house service contracts.

Identify supply chain bottlenecks and help develop corrective actions to minimize disruptions.

Support planning and execution activities associated with new product launches and production transitions.

Serve as Operations' primary liaison between Engineering, Program Management, Procurement, Production, and Quality.

Coordinate and track cross-functional support activities and project deliverables.

Support project management efforts for designated projects and strategic initiatives.

Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace, defense, and industry standards throughout supply chain operations.

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.

3–5+ years of experience in supply chain, procurement, manufacturing, engineering, or operations environments.

Experience working with suppliers, contract manufacturers, distributors, or regulated manufacturing organizations.

Knowledge of supplier qualification, supplier audits, corrective action processes, and supply chain risk management.

Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and supply chain planning tools.

Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

Familiarity with quality systems, supplier development, and manufacturing operations.

Project management experience within a technical or manufacturing environment.

#