Strategic Buyer

Adecco Portugal; Stafford (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Strategic Buyer role supporting defense suppliers and the lethality package supply chain, including warheads, ESAF devices, HOBS, and other critical components. This hands-on procurement position requires strong supplier management, purchasing, negotiation, and problem-solving skills in a technically complex aerospace/defense environment.

You will manage strategic supplier relationships, own purchase orders, monitor delivery performance, lead mitigation activities, and collaborate with

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, or supplier-management experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field.
• Direct supplier experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated environment.
• Strong purchase-order and supplier-delivery management experience.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and Microsoft Excel.
• Analytical, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage strategic and critical supplier relationships.
• Own purchase orders, releases, acknowledgements, changes, and expediting.
• Monitor delivery performance, lead times, shortages, and supply-chain risks.
• Lead supplier recovery and mitigation activities.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Finance.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, capacity, and MOQs.
• Support sourcing and supplier selection for new programs.
• Lead long-lead material planning and supplier capacity assessments.
• Track and communicate procurement risks to leadership.
• Support supplier business reviews and performance improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable defense, contractual, export-control, and quality requirements.

Skills

Procurement experience

Sourcing

Supplier management

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Organizational skills

Industry experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

NOW HIRING: STRATEGIC BUYER – LETHALITY & CRITICAL SUPPLIERS

Supply Chain / Procurement

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Buyer to support a portfolio of critical defense suppliers and play a key role in the lethality package supply chain, including warheads, Electronic Safe & Arm (ESAF) devices, HOBS, and other critical components.

This is a hands‑on procurement role requiring strong supplier management, purchasing, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills in a technically complex aerospace/defense environment.

What You'll Do:

• Manage strategic and critical supplier relationships
• Own purchase orders, releases, acknowledgements, changes, and expediting
• Monitor delivery performance, lead times, shortages, and supply‑chain risks
• Lead supplier recovery and mitigation activities
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Program Management, and Finance
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, capacity, and MOQs
• Support sourcing and supplier selection for new programs
• Lead long‑lead material planning and supplier capacity assessments
• Track and communicate procurement risks to leadership
• Support supplier business reviews and performance improvement initiatives
• Ensure compliance with applicable defense, contractual, export‑control, and quality requirements

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field
• 5+ years of procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, or supplier‑management experience
• Direct supplier experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or another highly regulated environment
• Strong purchase‑order and supplier‑delivery management experience
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to work effectively with Engineering and Manufacturing teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace/defense, missiles, munitions, energetics, or weapon‑system experience
• Complex electromechanical or energetic component procurement
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, ITAR, CMMC, or related requirements
• Long‑lead, sole‑source, or single‑source supplier experience
• Supplier recovery, capacity constraints, or production ramp‑up experience