Buyer – Outside Services in South Windsor, Connecticut at Electro-Methods Inc

Position Summary:

Electro-Methods, Inc., a Stronvar Aerospace company, is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Buyer – Outside Services to join our growing aerospace manufacturing team in South Windsor, Connecticut.

This position is responsible for sourcing, procuring, and coordinating outsourced manufacturing and special-processing services that support aerospace production. The Buyer manages external suppliers providing services such as machining, heat treating, plating, coating, testing, inspection, cleaning, and other specialized processes.

The Buyer oversees the complete procurement cycle, including supplier sourcing and selection, quotation analysis, negotiations, purchase order placement, order fulfillment, and supplier performance. This position is accountable for supporting on-time delivery, cost competitiveness, quality compliance, capacity requirements, and departmental and business-level key performance indicators (KPIs).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Supplier Sourcing and Management

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify outside service providers capable of meeting aerospace quality, delivery, capacity, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain a reliable network of approved suppliers for machining, special processing, testing, inspection, and related services.
• Solicit and evaluate requests for quotation (RFQs), analyze supplier proposals, and recommend sourcing decisions based on cost, quality, capacity, technical capability, and lead time.
• Negotiate pricing, delivery schedules, terms and conditions, service agreements, and long-term sourcing arrangements.
• Monitor supplier performance and support supplier development, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify alternative sources of supply to reduce risk and strengthen supply-chain continuity.

Purchase Order Management

• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders for outsourced manufacturing and special-processing services.
• Ensure purchase orders accurately communicate all applicable technical, quality, regulatory, quantity, pricing, and delivery requirements.
• Review order acknowledgments and resolve discrepancies involving pricing, delivery dates, quantities, or contractual requirements.
• Monitor supplier commitments and maintain accurate open-order and purchasing reports.
• Expedite orders as necessary to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Coordinate changes to purchase orders and agreements, including adjustments to volumes, schedules, pricing, quality requirements, and engineering specifications.

Order Fulfillment and Execution

• Manage the end-to-end fulfillment of outsourced service orders, from purchase requisition and supplier placement through receipt and invoice reconciliation.
• Monitor open orders and proactively manage delivery commitments to prevent disruptions to manufacturing operations.
• Communicate regularly with suppliers regarding order status, capacity, production progress, shipment tracking, and potential delivery risks.
• Expedite critical orders and establish recovery plans for late deliveries, capacity constraints, or other supplier performance issues.
• Resolve receiving discrepancies, invoice variances, quantity shortages, rejected materials, and shipment-related issues.
• Maintain accurate ERP data, including promised delivery dates, shipment status, supplier commitments, and order milestones.
• Develop and maintain supplier capacity, workload, and delivery forecasts to support production and material-planning activities.
• Establish, monitor, and report supplier fulfillment metrics, including on-time delivery, lead time, cycle time, responsiveness, quality performance, and backlog.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Program Management, and other stakeholders to identify and prioritize outsourcing requirements.
• Support capacity-planning decisions that effectively balance internal manufacturing capabilities with external supplier resources.
• Coordinate the timely shipment and movement of materials and components to and from outside processors.
• Work closely with Quality and Engineering to resolve nonconformances, technical issues, and supplier corrective actions.
• Communicate supplier risks, shortages, and schedule changes to internal stakeholders and support the development of appropriate mitigation plans.

Compliance and Documentation

• Ensure procurement activities comply with customer requirements, regulatory obligations, contractual terms, and company policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate supplier records, certifications, approvals, and supporting documentation.
• Support supplier audits, qualification activities, certification reviews, and approved-supplier maintenance.
• Maintain complete and accurate procurement records within the company’s ERP and related systems.
• Protect confidential, proprietary, customer, and export-controlled information in accordance with applicable requirements.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Manufacturing, Engineering, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Minimum of three years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, supplier management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated understanding of purchasing practices, supplier negotiations, order fulfillment, and contract administration.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing production requirements in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Experience working with ERP or material requirements planning systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Purchasing or supply-chain experience within aerospace, defense, precision manufacturing, or another highly regulated industry.
• Knowledge of AS9100 quality management systems.
• Familiarity with NADCAP-accredited special processes and related supplier requirements.
• Experience managing outsourced machining, testing, inspection, and special-processing suppliers.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing drawings, specifications, bills of material, and quality documentation.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to move throughout an office and manufacturing environment as required.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds.

Compliance Requirement

U.S. citizenship is required for this position due to applicable program and contractual compliance requirements.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. Electro-Methods Inc. considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.