Technical Buyer

Clutch Canada; Toronto; On-site; CAD 55,536 - 80,536; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation with equity

Health, dental, vision insurance for 1

Unlimited vacation & parental leave

Relocation packages

Professional development fund

Toronto office facilities

Great Place to Work

Job summary

Kepler Communications in Toronto is seeking a Technical Buyer to lead procurement and supplier management across programs, products, and commodities. You will collaborate with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance to source materials, manage delivery, and mitigate procurement risks while supporting new product introduction and production activities.

The role requires a proactive, detail-oriented professional with strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing or fast-paced operational environment.
• Experience processing purchase orders, obtaining supplier quotations, and managing supplier deliveries.
• Strong understanding of purchasing processes, order management, and supplier coordination.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, respond to changing business needs, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Finance, and other functions.
• Customer-focused mindset with a sense of urgency and proactive problem-solving.
• Experience expediting suppliers, resolving delivery issues, and coordinating with internal stakeholders to maintain material availability.
• Experience in Aerospace, Defense, Space, Electronics, Robotics, high-tech manufacturing, or a regulated industry is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Tactical Purchasing & Supplier Management across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Test, Logistics, and corporate functions.
• Process purchase requests, obtain supplier quotations, evaluate pricing and lead times, and issue purchase orders in a timely manner.
• Expedite purchase orders to ensure on-time delivery of materials, equipment, and services.
• Monitor open purchase orders, supplier acknowledgements, delivery commitments, and shipment status; resolve delays and discrepancies.
• Perform routine commercial negotiations for pricing, delivery, and payment terms.
• Serve as primary day-to-day purchasing contact for assigned suppliers.
• Coordinate supplier onboarding activities and maintain approved supplier documentation.
• Escalate supplier delivery, quality, and supply risks with mitigation actions.
• Monitor supplier performance and support accountability for schedule and quality.
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, Program Management, Finance, and other internal stakeholders.
• Respond quickly to changing priorities and urgent procurement requests.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure timely material availability, providing updates on open orders and schedule risks.
• Coordinate with Receiving, Quality, and Accounts Payable to resolve issues.
• Support NPI activities by purchasing prototype hardware.
• Support operational purchasing for Manufacturing, Logistics, and Inventory Management.

Skills

Communication

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Customer focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain / related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

Kepler Communications is building real-time Internet access for space-based assets to enable data-driven exploration and innovation. Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications and on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. The team emphasizes diverse perspectives and a growth-oriented environment where you can lead and make a global impact.

If you’re ready to reach higher and move faster, this is your launchpad — come build the future with Kepler.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation with a robust equity plan to share in our success.
• Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance — including dependents.
• Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy, and company-wide holiday shutdown.
• Semi-annual company-wide parties and frequent in-office team events.
• Relocation packages available for approved roles.
• $1,500 annual professional development fund to support your growth.
• Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances.
• Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events to stay connected and engaged.
• We’re a certified Great Place to Work®, five years in a row.

Role: Technical Buyer

The Technical Buyer is responsible for leading procurement and supplier management activities across assigned programs, products, and commodities. This role collaborates with Engineering, Program Management, Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance to ensure material, equipment, and services are sourced and delivered in support of program objectives. The successful candidate will proactively manage supplier performance, delivery schedules, procurement risks, and material readiness while supporting new product introduction (NPI) and production activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Tactical Purchasing & Supplier Management
• Execute day-to-day purchasing activities in support of Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Test, Logistics, and corporate functions.
• Process purchase requests, obtain supplier quotations, evaluate pricing and lead times, and issue purchase orders in a timely manner.
• Expedite purchase orders to ensure on-time delivery of materials, equipment, and services.
• Monitor open purchase orders, supplier acknowledgements, delivery commitments, and shipment status; proactively resolve delays and discrepancies.
• Perform routine commercial negotiations for pricing, delivery, and payment terms.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day purchasing contact for assigned suppliers.
• Coordinate supplier onboarding activities and maintain approved supplier documentation.
• Escalate supplier delivery, quality, and supply risks with recommended mitigation actions.
• Monitor supplier performance and support supplier accountability for schedule, quality, and responsiveness.

• Operations & Cross-Functional Support
• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, Program Management, Finance, and other internal stakeholders to understand purchasing priorities and material requirements.
• Respond quickly to changing priorities and urgent procurement requests in a fast-paced environment.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure timely material availability, providing regular updates on open orders, critical deliveries, and schedule risks.
• Coordinate with Receiving, Quality, and Accounts Payable to resolve purchasing, inspection, invoice, and payment issues.
• Support new product introduction (NPI) activities by purchasing prototype and development hardware.
• Support operational purchasing requirements for Manufacturing, Logistics, and Inventory Management.
• Participate in production and program standups as required, communicating material availability, supplier risks, and delivery status.
• Support production issue resolution related to supplier performance or material availability.

• Systems & Continuous Improvement
• Maintain accurate procurement, supplier, inventory, and ERP records.
• Support inventory replenishment, material tracking, and inventory management activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency, supplier responsiveness, and procurement processes.
• Support the implementation and continuous improvement of procurement systems, workflows, reporting, and automation initiatives.
• Contribute to process standardization and best practices across the Supply Chain function.
• Maintain a high level of urgency, accuracy, and customer service while managing multiple competing priorities.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing or fast-paced operational environment.
• Experience processing purchase orders, obtaining supplier quotations, and managing supplier deliveries.
• Strong understanding of purchasing processes, order management, and supplier coordination.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, respond to changing business needs, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Finance, and other functions.
• Customer-focused mindset with a sense of urgency and proactive problem-solving.
• Experience expediting suppliers, resolving delivery issues, and coordinating with internal stakeholders to maintain material availability.
• Experience in Aerospace, Defense, Space, Electronics, Robotics, high-tech manufacturing, or a regulated industry is an asset.

Bonus Points

• Experience supporting NPI and production programs.
• Familiarity with supplier quality processes and corrective action management.
• Experience working with complex electromechanical assemblies and long-lead components.
• Familiarity with supplier quality processes, corrective actions, and supplier performance management.
• Professional supply chain certification (SCMP, CPSM, CSCP, APICS, or equivalent).
• CIPS – Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS or FCIPS).

Salary & Equity

Salary Range: $55,536 - 80,536 CAD. Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and based on knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package.

Employment Equity & Accommodation Statement

Kepler Communications is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at [e-mail], and we will work with you to meet your needs.