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.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS (REQUIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE):
- 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.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
- 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
Job Location: Santa Fe Springs, CA
Rate: Up to $150000.00 DOE
Input Date: 10/12/2026
Attention: LaVada Pulley
Address: 420 CULVER BLVD
City, State: PLAYA DEL REY, CA 90293
Phone: 310/414-7800 X286
800 Phone: 800/927-9318
Fax Phone: 310/414-7808
Email: lpulley@chiptonross.com
Website: www.chiptonross.com
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