Buyer II

Keel; Ladson (SC); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Benefit Package

401(k) Match

HSA/FSA

Paid Holidays

Paid Time Off

Shift Differentials

Overtime Potential

Certification Sponsorship

Job summary

Keel is seeking a procurement professional to manage purchasing of industrial commodities supporting production and cross‑functional teams. The role covers supplier meetings, RFQ packages, sourcing to meet budget and program timing, and ensuring compliance with security and other requirements.

You will negotiate contracts, evaluate supplier capabilities, place orders, and drive cost reductions while maintaining quality and delivery. Travel to facilities may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or related technical field/equivalent experience.
• 3+ years in Purchasing/Supply Chain in a manufacturing environment.
• CPSM certification a plus; experience in industrial materials/metals fabrication a plus.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate all contracts, pricing, and issues with suppliers.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers to meet strategies and production requirements.
• Create RFQ packages and statements of work; source suppliers to meet budget and timing.
• Analyze supplier quotes and source lowest total cost suppliers.
• Manage supplier relationships and ensure pricing, terms, quality and delivery.
• Place purchase orders and negotiate long-term sourcing agreements.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams for RFQs and project requirements.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management / Business Administration or related field

CPSM certification

Job description

Description

Built on Experience. Built for Skill. Built for You.

Keel was formed by bringing together three industry leaders combining generations of hands-on expertise in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing.

That means when you join Keel, you’re joining a team backed by decades of proven craftsmanship and real-world results.

We build ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures that serve critical missions — and we do it with pride.

Your Mission:

This position is responsible for the purchasing of responsible commodities in an industrial environment to support production and related cross‑functional teams.

Work includes meeting with suppliers, reviewing requests, creating commodity strategies, creating requests for quote packages, sourcing suppliers to meet budget and program timing, ensuring suppliers understand (and comply to) flowed‑down security and other requirements, analyzing pricing, comparing specifications, and expediting materials.

Explore the Depth of the Role:

• Responsible for negotiating all contracts, pricing, and issues with suppliers.
• Research, identify, evaluate, and develop new suppliers to meet strategies & production requirements.
• Work with cross‑functional teams to create requests for quotation and statements of work for items required.
• Conduct analysis of supplier quotes and competitively source lowest Total Cost Suppliers.
• Ensure reasonableness and detail of expedite and other emergent costs borne by Keel or customers (including ‘cost-plus’ customers).
• Place Purchase Orders for the purchase of goods and services.
• Negotiate short and long‑term strategic sourcing agreements with suppliers.
• Interview suppliers and evaluate their products and capabilities. Manage and improve supplier relationships.
• Accountable for all pricing, terms, quality and delivery of responsible commodities.

Requirements

Mission Readiness:

• 4 Year bachelors’ degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration or a related technical field/ equivalent experience.
• 3 years’ minimum in Purchasing/Supply Chain role in a manufacturing environment.
• CPSM certification a plus. Experience in industrial materials/metals fabrication a plus.
• Ability to negotiate effectively, high energy, good communication, functional understanding of material properties and machining/processing/finishing methodologies, and cross‑functional team skills.

Travel Requirements:

• Occasional travel between facilities and customer sites as needed.

Physical Requirements:

• May be required to stand, walk, sit, reach/pull/push with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop or kneel regularly.
• May lift or carry 50lbs. Weights exceeding 50lbs will require mechanical means to maneuver.

Become a part of our Builders and you too can...

• Uphold Safety and Quality Standards
• Embody Team Spirit
• Relentless Customer Focus
• Convey Integrity, Trust, and Professionalism
• Execute with Excellence and Velocity

What Keel will build for you:

• Comprehensive Benefit Package
• Competitive Pay
• 401(k) Match
• HSA/FSA
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• Internal Referral Bonus Opportunities
• Shift Differentials
• Overtime Potential
• Paid on the Job Training
• Certification Sponsorship Opportunities
• Committed to Individual Career Growth
• We Do Fun Things, Plus More!

Need Assistance?

If you require a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the employment process, please email [e-mail] with details about your request and your contact information. Accommodation requests are reviewed individually on a case‑by‑case basis.

Please note that this email address is monitored only for inquiries related to reasonable accommodation requests.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans

What we build, builds us.