Government Buyer

Basic Scope

Coordinates planning and purchasing activities with R&D, engineering and manufacturing departments to acquire inventory, MRO items, and professional services to support government funded contracts in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). Ensure that all purchases and supporting documentation conform to FAR. Act as Small Business Administrator to perform the functions required to support FAR Small Business Administration regulations, including preparation of Small Business Subcontracting Plans, ISR/SSR reports via eSRS, the development of specific policies and procedures, as necessary to support the program, develop and facilitate staff training for new policies and procedures.

Perform cost/price analysis, negotiations, and initiate purchase orders and/or contracts to in a cost effective and timely manner to support daily contract and manufacturing requirements. Acquires and maintains technical understanding of products purchased. Performs cost analysis and volume planning for major commodities and government contracts. Plans and obtains materials, components, equipment and services to ensure materials are available according to production schedules. Develops new supply sources where suppliers are unavailable or inadequate. Monitors the cost, schedule and scope of assigned subcontracts to assure highest quality at best value. May recommend cost saving proposals including make-versus-buy analysis, alternative sourcing and supplier evaluation criteria. Evaluates, recommends, and implements new systems as required to automate the planning and procurement process.

Essential Functions:
This position is responsible to perform the planning and purchasing function for multiple functional areas to support government contracts and manufacturing/procurement plans.

Purchasing Functions:
•Performs purchasing function and provides support to CIC/Panel production team and other operational areas as designated.
•Ensures that all purchasing control systems have adequate justification and documentation according to FAR requirements.
•Evaluates supplier quotes and services to identify most qualified and desirable suppliers.
•Coordinates, plans, and purchases products and services.
•Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
•Performs a variety of complicated tasks, including sourcing new suppliers.-Writes procedures and work instructions as required to support department processes.
•Implements improvements as needed.
•May lead and direct the work of others.
•May assist with Supplier Review Team in such areas as Supplier Approval Process, Surveys, Performance Reviews, Supplier -Corrective Actions, and cost reduction programs.
•Responsible for sound purchasing practices, such as monitoring and following trends on cost and lead times, resolving receiving discrepancies in a timely manner, returning nonconforming material in a timely manner, and placing orders based on assignments for requisition requirements.
•Supports new part/supplier entry.
•Assure compliance to company and FAR procurement procedures.
•Updates cost, lead times, and supplier notes in ERP system.
•Reviews requirements for completeness and accuracy and take necessary actions (order, expedite, cancel) in a timely manner.
•Maintains accurate due dates for responsible commodities/supplies in ERP system.
•Identifies non-conformances when they occur and participates in finding the solution to the nonconformance.
•Deploys the Quality Management System as it applies to the scope of work.

Small Business Administration

•Stay abreast of current FAR and Small Business regulations

•Preparation of Small Business Subcontract Plans in support of proposals/solicitations

•Assisting in the development and promotion of company-wide policy initiatives that demonstrate the company’s support for awarding contracts and subcontracts to SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB concerns and assuring that these concerns are included on the source lists for solicitations for products and services they are capable of providing;
•Developing and maintaining bidder source lists of SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB concerns from all possible sources;
•Ensuring periodic rotation of potential subcontractors on bidder’s lists;
•Ensuring that SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB businesses are included on the bidders’ list for every subcontract solicitation for products and services that they are capable of providing;
•Ensuring that Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are designed to permit the maximum practicable participation of SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB concerns;
•Reviewing subcontract solicitations to remove statements, clauses, etc., which might tend to restrict or prohibit SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB participation;
•Accessing various sources for the identification of SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB concerns to include the SBA’s PRO-Net and SUB-Net Systems, (http://www.sba.gov), the National Minority Purchasing Council Vendor Information Service, the Office of Minority Business Data Center in the Department of Commerce, local small business and minority associations, contact with local chambers of commerce and Federal agencies’ Small Business Offices;

Establishing and maintaining contract and subcontract award records:

•Participating in Business Opportunity Workshops, Minority Business Enterprise Seminars, Trade Fairs, Procurement Conferences, etc;

•Ensuring that SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB concerns are made aware of subcontracting opportunities and assisting concerns in preparing responsive bids to the company;

•Conducting and/or arranging for the conduct of training for EMCORE purchasing personnel;

•Monitoring the company’s subcontracting program performance and making any adjustments necessary to achieve thesubcontract plan goals;

•Preparing and submitting timely, required subcontract reports;

Secondary Functions:

•Travel as required

•Other appropriate activities as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

•Comprehensive understanding and working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations

•Comprehensive understanding and experience performing duties of a Small Business Administrator

•Demonstrated negotiation skills

•Working knowledge of government contracts

•Ability to interpret and prepare legal purchase contracts

•Excellent computer skills are a must.

•Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

•CPM certification desired, but not required.

•Previous experience in the development and deployment of systems supporting manufacturing shop floors.

•Ability to read, analyze and interpret blueprints/drawings, common scientific and technical journals, simple financial reports and legal documents.

•Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or members of the business community.

•Must be able to speak, read, write and understand the English language.

•Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

•Ability to identify problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

•Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

•Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

•Advanced degree or equivalent of 5-8 years of related experience.

•Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.