Lead Buyer

3 month contract

Onsite - Huntsville AL ONLY

$70/hr. W2 ONLY

Overview

This role is the key liaison between Operations site leadership, Program/Product leadership, and the Supply Chain Organization. You will develop, manage, and execute the site material strategy to ensure seamless support from program initiation through fulfillment. The position requires end-to-end material management ownership—covering schedule, cost, and Material EAC—while ensuring supplier performance, financial compliance, and alignment with site requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of site material strategies to meet program and operational objectives.
• Manage financials, including EVMS, budgets, targets, forecasts, working capital, and material sales.
• Drive supplier management activities such as Line of Balance (LOB), material status, risk/opportunity management, performance monitoring, and strategic sourcing.
• Ensure compliance with requirements, including FAR/DFARS, ITAR, OPSEC, classification guides, public law, quality, and warranty.
• Oversee procurement planning, MRP/ERP transactions, BOM structures, and material estimating.
• Serve as the primary owner of supplier communication, ensuring customer flow-down requirements are met and exceeded.
• Establish and maintain KPIs to track supply chain performance and implement improvement plans.
• Collaborate across engineering, design, project management, and leadership to drive schedule adherence and cost efficiency.
• Apply Lean/Six Sigma tools, process re-engineering, and advanced analytics to optimize supply chain operations.
• Provide negotiation leadership for contracts, proposals, and supplier agreements.
• Support strategic decision-making through strong data-driven analysis, reporting, and forecasting.
• Ensure safe, high-quality execution of responsibilities in alignment with the organization’s mission and vision.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Engineering, or related fields.
• Proven procurement, planning, ERP/MRP systems, BOM structures, and material estimating expertise.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, fast-paced technology programs with limited resources.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Track record of negotiating contracts, managing suppliers, and delivering results in ambiguous environments.
• Experience with defense acquisition processes and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in Lean/Six Sigma methodologies focusing on process improvement and efficiency.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with experience using metrics and KPIs to drive performance.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results within budget and schedule.
• Willingness to travel occasionally.

Key Attributes for Success

• Influential leader with excellent facilitation, presentation, and communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to manage trade-offs and evaluate complex technical and business concepts.
• Passion for innovation and commitment to supporting safe human spaceflight.