Buyer III

Talentify; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Origin is seeking a Buyer III to lead procurement for spaceflight systems, managing suppliers and contracts to meet program needs in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities include issuing RFPs/RFQs, price analyses, and developing negotiation strategies, while aligning with program objectives and ensuring on-time, budget-compliant material delivery. Travel up to 20% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, SCM, Finance or similar; 5+ years in SCM or Master’s with 3+ years in SCM.
• Knowledge and experience in procurement and supplier management.
• Understanding of FAR.
• Experience negotiating and managing multiple contract types (FFP, T&M, CPFF/CPIF).
• Willingness to travel up to 20%.
• Proven ability to meet tight deadlines and priorities.
• Experience in ambiguous environments with data-driven metrics.
• Strong communication and people skills; AS9100 knowledge; familiarity with engineering data.

Responsibilities

• Manage and direct suppliers and teammates for external development of spaceflight systems.
• Prioritize and execute program requirements for Blue Origin.
• Prepare RFPs/RFQ, perform price analyses, and develop negotiation strategies.
• Construct contracting types including LTAs and sourcing partnerships.
• Own procurement process from requisition to final payment and resolve issues.
• Lead strategic agreements (LTAs) from identification to management.
• Support procurement strategy and ensure corporate objectives are met.
• Ensure timely delivery of production materials within budget and with required performance.

Skills

Procurement

Supplier management

FAR knowledge

Contract negotiation

Contract types (FFP, T&M, CPFF/CPIF)

Project metrics

AS9100

Engineering data

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance

Master's degree in SCM or related (optional)

Tools

Deltek Costpoint

Jira

SharePoint

Job description

At our client, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We're working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our diverse team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! We are a diverse team of collaborators, doers, and problem-solvers who are relentlessly committed to a culture of safety. This position will directly impact the history of space exploration and will require your commitment and detailed attention towards safe and repeatable space flight. Join us in lowering the cost of access to space and enabling Blue Origin's vision of millions of people living and working in space to benefit Earth. As part of a diverse and hardworking team of professionals, specialists, and engineers, you will lead efforts to manage and direct suppliers and teammates to support the external development of various spaceflight systems. You will interact with our customers, the Programs, to address concerns and ensure development efforts and deliveries are on track. Our Buyer III will ensure program requirements are appropriately prioritized and executed to meet the needs of our client. They will be competent in our client's Supply Chain compliance standards, strategies, and initiatives. They have excellent oral and written skills, and solid communication skills. They also have experience preparing and issuing Requests for Proposal/ Requests for Quote, performing price analyses in support of proposals, and have developed negotiation strategies and led formal negotiations. Our Buyer III is experienced in constructing various contracting types for major procurement activities to meet the requirements of the programs and needs of the business to include long range procurement agreements, sourcing partnerships, continuous improvement initiatives, and identification of opportunities for enhanced efficiencies. They take ownership of the procurement process from requisition creation through final payment of invoices and are accountable to resolve issues within this process. They will lead the identification, implementation, negotiation, execution, and management of strategic agreements (i.e., Long-Term Agreements (LTAs)) where mutually beneficial. They will support the overall procurement organization's strategic direction and ensure corporate strategic objectives are achieved to include delivery of production materials that are on time, within budget and meet technical performance requirements. Key candidate attributes to facilitate success in this role include influencing, facilitation, presentation, communication, process development, analysis, and problem solving. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Responsibilities

• Manage and direct suppliers and teammates to support the external development of various spaceflight systems.
• Ensure program requirements are appropriately prioritized and executed to meet the needs of Blue Origin.
• Prepare and issue Requests for Proposal/Requests for Quote, perform price analyses in support of proposals, and develop negotiation strategies.
• Construct various contracting types for major procurement activities, including long range procurement agreements and sourcing partnerships.
• Take ownership of the procurement process from requisition creation through final payment of invoices and resolve issues within this process.
• Lead the identification, implementation, negotiation, execution, and management of strategic agreements (i.e., Long-Term Agreements (LTAs)).
• Support the overall procurement organization's strategic direction and ensure corporate strategic objectives are achieved.
• Ensure delivery of production materials that are on time, within budget, and meet technical performance requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance or similar with minimum 5+ years of experience in Supply Chain Management or Master's degree with 3 years of experience in Supply Chain Management.
• Knowledge and experience in procurement and supplier management.
• Understanding and knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).
• Experience with negotiating and managing multiple contract types, including Firm Fixed Price (FFP), Time and Material (T&M) and cost type (CPFF, CPIF).
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Proven ability to meet tight deadlines, multi-task, and prioritize workload.
• Track record of working in an ambiguous environment and successfully balancing priorities.
• Strong analytical skills, data driven with experience in establishing and tracking program metrics.
• Must have top notch people and communication skills.
• Working understanding of AS9100 standards.
• Knowledge of Engineering Data such as specifications & source control drawings.

Nice-to-haves

• Prior experience in the Space or Aerospace industry.
• Experience with Avionics or Fluids components.
• Experience with import/export (ITAR/EAR) regulations.
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) Certification.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, Jira, SharePoint.

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