Job Description
Job DescriptionDescription:
The Junior Buyer supports procurement operations in a regulated, high-volume, low-mix military manufacturing environment. This role applies acquired job skills, company policies, and established procedures to execute semi-routine purchasing activities that ensure material availability, cost awareness, and schedule adherence. The Junior Buyer works independently on routine tasks and receives guidance on new or non-standard assignments, contributing through personal effort to team and organizational goals.
Requirements:
Purchasing & Supply Support
- Execute purchase orders for production and non-production materials in accordance with approved procedures, contracts, and military compliance requirements.
- Manage semi-routine buying assignments by selecting appropriate solutions from defined procedures using sound judgment and prior experience.
- Monitor supplier delivery performance and follow up on late, incomplete, or incorrect shipments.
- Support material planning and production schedules in a high-volume, low-mix environment to minimize shortages or disruptions.
Problem Solving & Decision Making
- Address routine purchasing issues that are known, defined, and readily apparent.
- Perform basic fact-finding to resolve occasional non-routine issues, escalating as appropriate.
- Ensure actions taken align with established procurement policies, quality standards, and compliance requirements.
Cost & Performance Awareness
- Maintain awareness of material costs, lead times, and service-level expectations.
- Support cost control initiatives by ensuring accurate pricing, quantities, and terms on purchase orders.
- Understand the downstream impact of purchasing decisions on production, inventory, and customer commitments.
Communication & Collaboration
- Interact daily with internal stakeholders (planning, production, quality, engineering, and finance) to exchange basic information and support operational needs.
- Communicate professionally with suppliers to convey order details, delivery expectations, and routine issue resolution.
- Demonstrate customer service skills, common courtesy, and tact in all internal and external interactions.
Compliance & Documentation
- Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, military/defense regulations, and quality management system requirements.
- Maintain accurate records, documentation, and system data to support audits and traceability requirements.
Skills & Competencies
- Working knowledge of procurement and supply chain processes
- Ability to follow established procedures and instructions with minimal supervision
- Sound judgment and common-sense decision making within defined guidelines
- Basic problem-solving and fact-finding skills
- Strong organizational and time-management abilities
- Professional communication and customer service skills
- Attention to detail and documentation accuracy
Experience & Education
- Typically requires 1–2 years of related purchasing, supply chain, or manufacturing experience
- Entry point into skilled procurement roles
- May require formal occupational training or certification related to supply chain, procurement, or manufacturing
- Experience in a regulated or military/defense manufacturing environment is a plus
Level & Impact (Intermediate S2 Alignment)
- Applies acquired job skills and company policies to complete assigned tasks
- Works on semi-routine assignments with limited impact, typically within the immediate team
- Financial accountability is limited to cost awareness and service-level expectations
- Normally follows established procedures on routine work; instructions required primarily for new assignments
- Supports team and organizational goals through personal contribution in own work area