Buyer - Supply Chain Procurement
AeroVironmentWorker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Buyer performs procurement duties related to the purchasing of services, supplies and equipment in accordance to policies and regulations. In this role, one reviews and analyzes purchase requisitions and coordinates purchasing activities with Manufacturing, Planning, Engineering, Program Management, Quality and Finance to acquire inventory in a cost effective and timely manner. The Buyer reviews purchases requisitions, issues purchase orders and change orders, conducts RFQ/RFP activities, and negotiates pricing and terms with suppliers. This role is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing the procurement of materials, components, equipment, and services in support of development, integration, and production activities. The position works closely with Engineering, Program Management, Operations, and Quality to ensure on-time, cost-effective, and compliant material availability. Position Responsibilities Monitors the cost, schedule and scope of assigned subcontracts to negotiate terms and pricing for increasingly larger, complex and difficult materials and services Monitors supplier performance and supports corrective actions to address delivery, quality, cost or service issues Identifies, evaluates and develops new supply sources of supply to improve cost, quality, lead time and supply continuity Manages and develops supplier relationships to reduce costs, improve & maintain quality, and ensure on-time delivery of purchased materials Negotiates terms and pricing for increasingly larger, complex and difficult materials and services Partners with cross-functional teams to align procurement plans with program schedules and budgets Develops, issues, evaluates and documents RFQ/RFP packages and tracks supplier responses Manages assigned purchase orders from placement through delivery, proactively addressing shortages, past-due orders, supplier constraints and other risks that could impact production or program schedules Maintains accurate purchasing data, including supplier commitments, delivery dates, pricing lead times and other procurement information. Partners with Finance to resolve invoice, purchase order and accounting discrepancies in a timely manner. Ensures compliance with AV policies, customer requirements, and applicable regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR) Monitors site activities associated with Asset Management Lifecycle Business Systems to ensure company, customer, and U.S. Government assets accountable to the company, or within its possession, are controlled and maintained in accordance with applicable regulations, company policies and procedures Maintains accurate procurement documentation and supports internal and external audits Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors Analyzes procurement, supplier and material data to identify issues and support solutions. Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions Supports proposals and new business with pricing, lead-time, and sourcing inputs, including make/buy recommendations Identifies and helps manage long-lead, single/sole-source, and obsolescence risks Other duties as assigned Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience) AS/AA Degree in Business, Finance, Accounting or related discipline is required or equivalent combination of experience and education Minimum 2 years of related procurement, purchasing or supply chain experience Experience negotiating terms and pricing for materials and services Experience with purchasing practices and processes in manufacturing and engineering environments Ability to read and comprehend engineering drawings and specifications Working knowledge of manufacturing processes Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint Demonstrated proficiency with MRP/ERP systems Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies Bachelor's degre…