GKN Aerospace

Senior Strategic Sourcing Buyer

GKN Aerospace

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Office

Location: Garden GroveCaliforniaUnited States

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Salary

💰 $99,738 - $149,606 per year

Job Level

Tech Stack

About the role

  • Develop, execute sourcing strategies and negotiate multiyear long-term agreements for raw materials, indirect materials, services, tooling, and capital equipment.
  • Analyze market trends, lead negotiations, supplier agreements and SOWs, focusing on cost, quality, delivery, favorable terms and robust service levels.
  • Evaluate supply‑base capabilities, capacity risks, and cost‑reduction opportunities to guide long‑term decisions.
  • Collaborate with engineering, operations, quality, and program management teams to define clear, complete Statements of Work aligned with technical, quality, and delivery requirements.
  • Manage contract lifecycles, renewals, and performance against key commercial and operational metrics.
  • Select qualified suppliers, conduct supplier evaluations, manage supplier performance, build and maintain supplier relationships.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for strategic suppliers, facilitating performance reviews, recovery plans, and capability improvements.
  • Drive supplier accountability in cost, quality, delivery, and risk mitigation.
  • Ability to apply Lean principles (like value stream mapping, 5S, A3, Kaizen, PDCA, root cause analysis) to eliminate waste and make subcontracting processes efficient.
  • Utilize data driven tools to analyze procurement value streams and implement improvements that enhance workflow, reduce rework and improve supplier performance.
  • Ensure adherence to government regulations (FAR/DFARS/ITAR) and AS9100, and defense contracting requirements.
  • Monitor supply‑chain disruptions and geopolitical factors affecting category performance.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 7+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement or commodity management experience within aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
  • Expertise in supplier negotiations, cost‑modeling, SOW creation, and contract management.
  • Strong analytical skills, ability to solve complex problems, and capability to work in a collaborative environment.
  • In-depth understanding of indirect procurement categories and capital equipment sourcing.
  • Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems, MS Office (especially Excel) fluency in data‑driven decision‑making skills.
  • Working knowledge of ITAR, AS9100, and defense‑industry procurement practices.
  • Prior experience within GKN or similar aerospace manufacturing environments (preferred).
  • APICS, CPSM/CPM, or similar supply chain certification (preferred).
  • LEAN, Six Sigma, or continuous‑improvement background (preferred).
  • Experience leading cross‑functional sourcing efforts or acting as a category lead (preferred).
  • Exceptional presentation and stakeholder engagement skills (preferred).
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
strategic sourcingprocurementcommodity managementsupplier negotiationscost-modelingSOW creationcontract managementLean principlesdata-driven decision-makingsupply chain analysis
Soft Skills
analytical skillsproblem-solvingcollaborationpresentation skillsstakeholder engagement
Certifications
Bachelor's degreeAPICSCPSMCPMLEAN certificationSix Sigma certification