Sr. Purchasing Manager

Albany Engineered Composites (AEC) designs, develops, and manufactures advanced composite components in order to help our customers push the frontiers of innovation. Our core strength is our ability to produce highly tailored, complex composite components. With our unique blend of products - including 3D woven structures, traditional and non-traditional 2D composite structures, and discrete through thickness reinforcement technologies, to name a few - AEC is able to produce composite components and products which meet performance and cost specifications often beyond the reach of metallic or conventional laminated composites.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing procurement strategies within a government contracting environment, ensuring the timely acquisition of materials while maintaining compliance with relevant regulations. This role involves cultivating strategic supplier relationships, managing a high-performing purchasing team, and driving cost savings initiatives to enhance operational efficiency. By collaborating with cross-functional teams, the Senior Purchasing Manager will contribute to the successful execution of complex projects, aligning procurement practices with organizational goals.

Job Responsibilities:

In performing their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to adhere to Albany's current values: Albany Wins Together, Count on Each Other, Own Your Actions, Care About Each Other, and Share Your Enthusiasm. Safety must always come first; we never compromise on safety for the sake of achieving another objective. Employees are also responsible for the health and safety of themselves and each other.

• Negotiate Supply Agreements/Contracts: Lead complex negotiations for supply agreements and contracts, ensuring favorable terms that align with organizational objectives.
• Develop Strategic Purchasing Initiatives: Formulate and implement advanced purchasing strategies across various commodities to optimize cost efficiency and supply reliability.
• Oversee Price and Cost Analysis: Direct comprehensive price and cost analysis for government contracts, ensuring compliance and competitiveness.
• Enhance Buyer Training Programs: Develop and oversee training programs for buyers on government procurement procedures to ensure compliance and successful audit outcomes.
• Manage Supplier Performance and Relationships: Establish and nurture strategic supplier relationships, focusing on performance management for SLC accounts to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Lead Purchasing Team Development: Define, establish, and mentor a high-performing purchasing team that supports government programs, emphasizing quality, cost, and timely delivery.
• Address Complex Organizational Challenges: Utilize extensive experience to solve intricate problems, successfully negotiating the best prices and terms in critical situations.
• Foster Self-Managed Teams: Promote and facilitate a self-managed team environment, encouraging collaboration and accountability within the purchasing department.
• Implement Risk Mitigation Strategies: Manage supplier performance and risk mitigation activities that bolster SLC operations, ensuring stability and reliability.
• Oversee Variance Management Processes: Manage the variance process for payment terms and overdue invoices, ensuring alignment with organizational cash flow and financial objectives.
• Monitor Technological Advancements: Track and assess the development of new technologies relevant to procurement, ensuring the organization remains competitive and innovative.
• Conduct Price/Cost Analysis: Lead in-depth price and cost analysis to support purchasing decisions, ensuring cost-effectiveness across the supply chain.
• Benchmark Marketplace Practices: Conduct marketplace benchmarking to identify best practices and pricing strategies that enhance purchasing effectiveness.
• Strategic Client Requirement Translation: Leverage general business acumen to translate strategic client requirements into a robust supplier base that meets current and future needs.
• Engage with Stakeholders at All Levels: Collaborate effectively with AEC and supplier personnel, including senior management, to align purchasing strategies with organizational goals.
• Exemplify Leadership and Teamwork: Demonstrate strong leadership, interpersonal skills, and the ability to foster teamwork within the purchasing department.
• Maintain Commodity and Market Knowledge: Develop in-depth knowledge of commodities and items pertinent to AEC applications and the external marketplace.
• Communicate Effectively Across Levels: Utilize exceptional verbal and written communication skills to ensure timely and effective interaction with AEC and supplier personnel at all levels.
• Cultivate Cultural Sensitivity: Maintain sensitivity to diverse cultures within the supply chain, fostering inclusive and effective collaboration.
• Drive Savings and Inventory Management: Oversee initiatives related to savings, quality control, lead time reduction, and inventory management to enhance operational efficiency.
• Lead Annual Savings Goals: Spearhead the overall team savings goals established each year, ensuring targets are met or exceeded.
• Champion Continuous Improvement: Drive continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing costs and enhancing supply chain efficiencies across operations.
• Report Savings Achievements: Provide detailed reports on savings achievements through monthly statistics and quarterly summaries, communicating successes to stakeholders.

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

Supervisors are responsible for overseeing their work group including but not limited to: formal evaluations/performance management as set out by the organization, recruitment and developing employees.

Qualifications/Characteristics:

• Educational Qualifications: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Science or Arts; MBA is preferred.
• Extensive Experience: 8+ years of experience in a leadership role within government contracting purchasing, demonstrating advanced expertise in procurement strategies.
• Supervisory and Leadership Experience: Proven experience in supervising teams, including formal performance evaluations, recruitment, and professional development of direct reports.
• Complex Proposal Development: Demonstrated track record in developing and executing sophisticated material proposals that align with organizational goals.
• Strategic Relationship Management: Ability to think strategically and cultivate long-term relationships with suppliers, ensuring alignment with business objectives. Urgency with Strategic Intent: Capable of acting with urgency and purpose while maintaining a strong focus on long-term strategic goals.
• Risk and Opportunity Management: Proficient in developing and executing risk and opportunity plans to achieve program objectives effectively.
• Collaborative Work with Cross-Functional Teams: Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to establish release strategies based on Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and overall platform requirements.
• ERP System Expertise: Extensive transactional experience with SAP ERP Production System, leveraging its capabilities to optimize purchasing processes.
• Financial Management Proficiency: Strong financial management skills, including expertise in Material Estimated at Completion (EAC) and material forecasting.
• Ethical Leadership: Uphold high ethical standards while fostering a culture of interpersonal growth and collaboration within the team.
• Communication and Presentation Skills: Demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, along with strong presentation abilities to convey complex information effectively.
• Supplier Management Experience: Extensive experience in supplier management, including the development and negotiation of Statements of Work (SOW).
• Knowledge of Acquisition Regulations: Solid understanding of U.S. government acquisition laws and regulations (FAR, DFAR, ITAR, EAR, etc.), ensuring compliance in all purchasing activities.
• Government Contracting Expertise: Prior experience in government contracting is essential, with a proven ability to navigate and manage the complexities involved.

Working Conditions:

Office environment, duties performed indoors, moderate to quiet noise and comfortable temperatures. Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions levels. Ability to work 24/7 schedule and be available as business situations require. Some may be able to do part of their work remotely. Travel may be required

Physical requirements:

Occasionally positions self to move an office item >10 lbs.

Frequently move about the production floor and office area to attend meetings or trainings

Must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 75% of the time

Frequently operates a computer, enters data into systems, verifies information, etc

• As a Department of Defense Contractor we are required to hire US Persons.
• Visa sponsorship is not being offered.