Purchasing Manager

Sky Limit Systems; Granby (CT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Sky Limit Systems in the Hartford area is seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead procurement operations for an aerospace and defense manufacturing facility. You will oversee a team of Buyers, develop purchasing strategies, and drive supplier performance to meet cost, quality, and delivery targets.

The role requires deep aerospace procurement experience, strong leadership, and knowledge of regulatory requirements such as FAR/DFARS and ITAR/EAR.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive procurement or purchasing experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within aerospace or defense.
• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing supply chains, supplier qualification, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in contract negotiation, cost reduction, and supplier development.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, IFS, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyers and Procurement Specialists.
• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with production schedules and business objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers to achieve cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Establish long-term supplier agreements and contracts to support supply chain continuity.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive corrective actions to address delivery, quality, and responsiveness issues.
• Manage supplier risks, including capacity constraints, financial stability, geopolitical factors, and single-source dependencies.
• Partner with Material Planning, Production, Engineering, and Quality to ensure material availability.
• Optimize ERP/MRP purchasing parameters to balance inventory levels, lead times, and production requirements.
• Drive cost savings and cost avoidance through supplier negotiations, value engineering, and process improvements.
• Establish departmental goals, KPIs, and performance expectations.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across procurement processes and policies.
• Ensure compliance with customer flow-down requirements, FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, CPSR, AS9100, and applicable company policies.
• Support internal and external audits related to purchasing and supplier management

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

IFS

Job description

We are seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead procurement operations at an aerospace and defense manufacturing facility in the Northwest Hartford area. This role oversees a team of Buyers and is responsible for ensuring the timely, cost-effective, and quality-focused acquisition of materials, components, and services to support production and business operations.

The Purchasing Manager will drive supplier performance, negotiate contracts, implement cost-saving initiatives, and collaborate with Material Planning, Production, Engineering, and Quality. The ideal candidate brings strong aerospace procurement experience, proven leadership skills, and a solid understanding of supply chain compliance and risk management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyers and Procurement Specialists
• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with production schedules and business objectives
• Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with suppliers to achieve cost, quality, and delivery targets
• Establish long-term supplier agreements and contracts to support supply chain continuity
• Monitor supplier performance and drive corrective actions to address delivery, quality, and responsiveness issues
• Manage supplier risks, including capacity constraints, financial stability, geopolitical factors, and single-source dependencies
• Partner with Material Planning, Production, Engineering, and Quality to ensure material availability
• Optimize ERP/MRP purchasing parameters to balance inventory levels, lead times, and production requirements
• Drive cost savings and cost avoidance through supplier negotiations, value engineering, and process improvements
• Establish departmental goals, KPIs, and performance expectations
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across procurement processes and policies
• Ensure compliance with customer flow-down requirements, FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, CPSR, AS9100, and applicable company policies
• Support internal and external audits related to purchasing and supplier management

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field
• 7+ years of progressive procurement or purchasing experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role within aerospace or defense
• Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing supply chains, supplier qualification, and regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated experience in contract negotiation, cost reduction, and supplier development
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, IFS, or similar platforms
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and influencing stakeholders
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate a team

Preferred Qualifications

• APICS/CPIM, CPSM, PMP, or similar professional certification
• Experience with strategic sourcing and long-term supplier agreements
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, ITAR/EAR, CPSR, and AS9100 requirements
• Experience with supplier risk management, corrective actions, and performance improvement programs
• Background in Lean or continuous improvement methodologies
• Understanding of inventory turns, material availability, supplier quality, and procurement performance metrics

Why Join?

• Lead a critical procurement function supporting aerospace and defense manufacturing
• Develop a team while shaping supplier relationships and purchasing strategies
• Drive measurable improvements in cost, quality, delivery, and supply chain performance
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support production and business objectives
• Contribute to continuous improvement in a highly regulated manufacturing environment