AMES BUYER

Position Summary

The Buyer is responsible for managing and optimizing the inventory of materials, parts, tools, equipment, and services required to support aircraft heavy maintenance, component repair and overhaul, manufacturing operations, and affiliated companies.

This position manages the purchasing lifecycle from requisition review and supplier sourcing through quotation, purchase order generation, delivery, and supplier performance monitoring. The Buyer analyzes historical usage, inventory levels, shortages, and forecasts to ensure materials are available when needed while minimizing excess inventory and unnecessary costs.

The Buyer also supports supplier qualification and development, monitors required quality certifications, resolves delivery discrepancies, and assists with negotiating pricing and rebate agreements to achieve cost-effective procurement while maintaining compliance with applicable company, aviation, financial, and regulatory requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Review, coordinate, and process requisitions for materials, parts, tools, equipment, and services required to support heavy maintenance, component repair and overhaul, manufacturing operations, and affiliated companies.
• Review requisitions and requests for completeness, appropriate justification, and required approvals.
• Plan and provision materials based on operational requirements, inventory levels, historical usage, and anticipated demand.
• Assist in developing and documenting specifications for Requests for Information (RFI) and Requests for Quotation (RFQ).
• Research and source materials, parts, tools, equipment, and services from qualified suppliers.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations and assist with purchasing decisions.
• Generate and transmit purchase orders in accordance with established purchasing procedures.
• Validate and scan required reference documentation provided by requestors and enter appropriate information into the WINGS IT system part master for new material requirements.
• Review inventory minimum and maximum stock levels and recommend appropriate provisioning actions.
• Analyze material shortages and assist in developing timely resolutions to support operational requirements.
• Assist in preparing and reviewing short- and long-term material requirements forecasts.
• Evaluate, recommend, develop, and manage suppliers.
• Investigate and resolve supplier delivery discrepancies.
• Monitor and report supplier performance using applicable IT systems and Access database tools.
• Evaluate engineering modification orders and provision materials based on bills of materials.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage supplier pricing and rebate agreements.
• Identify opportunities for long-term pricing agreements and commodity bundling to improve cost efficiency.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, inventory, and supporting documentation.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.

Experience

The original job description does not identify a minimum required amount of prior work experience. Relevant procurement, materials, inventory, or supply chain experience is preferred.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to learn and operate inventory and purchasing systems.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and manage purchasing documentation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, track multiple orders, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to assess urgency and business impact and effectively prioritize purchasing activities.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines while balancing urgent operational requirements with longer-term procurement planning.
• Ability to learn and apply fundamental inventory control, purchasing, and supply chain processes.
• Familiarity with contractual terms and purchasing documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate information and make informed decisions.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow established procedures.
• Ability and willingness to work rotational weekend shifts.

Preferred Qualifications

• Four (4) years of experience in procurement, materials management, inventory management, or supply chain management; or
• An undergraduate degree and two (2) years of applicable experience in procurement, materials management, inventory management, or supply chain management.
• Two (2) years of experience in an aircraft heavy maintenance, aircraft component repair, overhaul, or parts manufacturing production environment.
• Prior commercial aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) or airline experience.
• Experience and demonstrated proficiency using the WINGS IT system.
• Familiarity with aircraft, engines, components, and related aircraft parts.
• Experience using aircraft Illustrated Parts Catalogs (IPCs), Engineering Authorizations (EAs), Service Bulletins (SBs), technical publications, drawings, prints, and diagrams.
• Previous supervisory or lead experience.
• Purchasing Manager, Logistics Manager, or Certified Contract Manager certification.

Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

The Buyer is responsible for performing purchasing activities in accordance with applicable AMES policies and procedures, including:

• AMES Purchasing Policy & Procedures Manual.
• Materials Management Policy & Procedures Manual.
• Sarbanes-Oxley financial regulations and reporting requirements.
• Applicable FAA regulations and other applicable laws and regulations.
• Uniform Commercial Code.
• Supplier aviation and commercial quality certification requirements.
• CASE certification requirements for aviation suppliers.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

• Routine work is performed in both office and warehouse environments.
• Business casual attire is required.
• Very infrequent travel may be required with advance notice.

The position requires the communication and sensory abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of the job, including good oral and written communication, hearing, speaking, near/far visual acuity, depth perception, hand/eye coordination, color vision, and field of vision.

Additional Information

This position combines responsibilities associated with purchasing and parts provisioning and supports the timely availability of materials necessary for aircraft maintenance, component repair, overhaul, and manufacturing operations. The position is subject to the requirements specified in the AMES Repair Station & Quality Manual for this type of work.