Job Description

REPORTS TO: Supply Chain Manager - AAT

SUPERVISES: N/A

Austal USA Advanced Technologies (AT) is a division of Austal USA, a global defense prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defense and commercial ships.

Austal USA AT works at the forefront to invent, mature, and implement advanced maritime technologies which enhance operational capacities and improve readiness of our defense systems. Austal USA AT operates a technology hub in Charlottesville VA which works to bring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies to scale and also oversees operation of the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM COE) located in Danville, VA. The mission of the AM COE is to operationalize additive manufacturing in the submarine industrial base and provide emergent request support to sustain our Nation’s fleet.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Assure continuous availability of supplied components to meet future demand for globally used parts. Ensures plant needs and requirements are met while maintaining a high level of customer service. Performs the day-to-day responsibility for a buying desk in a specific commodity group within the Purchasing Department. Transactions at this level range from routine to complex, may involve moderately high dollar values and moderate levels of risk with heavy volume, and moderately complex commodities.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs quoting, negotiating and issuing purchase orders $5M+ in value, in a timely manner, for, parts, subassemblies, finished goods, equipment, tooling, supplies and/or services from suppliers via purchase requisitions.
• Follows up with requestors and end users regarding purchase order due dates and status when inquiries are made.
• Follows all supply chain policies, procedures, guidelines and instructions including those regarding the procurement of materials and particularly the ability to keep confidential information regarding all purchasing or commodity strategies confidential (and in some cases, within the supply chain function exclusively).
• Runs and maintains the buying desk’s purchase requisition or MRP open order, expedite, de-expedite, and past due reports and ensures MRP/IFS system is updated accordingly.
• Assists with Submarine Industrial Base supplier activation and onboarding efforts.
• Works closely with engineering, production, digital IT to understand service, tooling, equipment and materials needed to quote and order competitively as require
• Strives to increase understanding of the services, material and manufacturing processes associated with the assigned buying desk.
• Responsible for supporting related departments with the resolution of supplier invoice discrepancies and non-conforming material, requisition issues etc.
• Represents the supplier inside Austal.
• Maintains close communication with supplier account and customer service personnel, and management levels if necessary, so as to minimize risk due to supplier capacity issues, plant shutdowns, and other day to day disruptions that may affect Austal and/or open purchase orders.
• Assists with supplier metrics and advises suppliers of their performance.
• Maintains professional relationships with suppliers on the assigned buying desk even in difficult times.
• Provides input on commodity strategies and related projects.
• Reviews statements of work when required.
• Purchases in both MRP and project/purchase requisition oriented type environments under Contractor Purchasing Systems Review guidelines.
• Assists other Buyers when required.
• Participates in plant continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and other initiatives involving the plant Supply Chain function or assigned buying desk when appropriate.
• Is the main contact point for outside departments (e.g., Engineering, Accounting, etc.) as well as suppliers.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Complies with Austal’s employee handbook general guidelines, company procedures and policies.

QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Degree in Business, Supply Chain or Material Management preferred.

  • 8 years purchasing experience may be considered in lieu of degree
• 4 years’ purchasing experience required.
• Experience leading shipboard work-related projects required.
• Possess willingness and ability to work independently with limited or no supervision and take initiative in all aspects of the position duties required.
• Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point), Internet Explorer and Outlook required.
• Intermediate to expert level understanding of the material, services and manufacturing processes associated with the assigned buying desk required.
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to deadlines, handle multiple priorities and manage high volume purchasing activity with confidence required.
• General understanding of the Uniform Commercial Code, U.S. Government FAR, DFARS and ITAR requirements required.
• General understanding of enterprise quality system functionality (e.g., ISO 9000, AS9100, TS16949, etc.) required.
• Contractor Purchasing System Review experience within U.S. defense environment preferred.
• Certifications preferred: A.P.P., C.P.M., CPSM, CSCP, CPIM.
• New hires are required to successfully complete Austal Buyer III Certification within the first 90 days of hire.
• Incumbent individuals are required to complete the requisite courses required to be eligible for promotion to the corresponding levels.
• Access database skills preferred.
• Additional preferred work experience:
  • Quoting, analyzing, negotiating, reporting and purchase order placement for material and services.
  • Supplier rationalization activities (adding/removing suppliers and familiarity with Approved Supplier Lists, Bid Lists, and small business requirements).
  • Order follow- up activities (expediting, de-expediting and stat using).
  • Use of ERP/MRP systems and logic such as IFS, BAAN, SAP, JD Edwards and Oracle with IFS as first preference.
  • Discrepancy resolution activities such as invoice discrepancies, non-conforming material cases and repair/rework material authorizations.
  • Data mining and market analysis.
  • Dealing with traffic, routing instructions, and interaction with the laws governing direct an indirect purchasing.
  • Reading blueprints/drawings, interpret specifications and review statements of work.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES:

• Candidates must meet the following employment eligibility guidelines to be considered for employment with Austal USA:
• 18 years of age or older at time of application.
• Able to provide proof of US Person Status.
• No felony convictions of Theft/Deception or Violent crimes within seven years from disposition date.
• No felony convictions of Drug crimes within three years from disposition date.
• Willing to submit to a drug screen.
• Willing to submit to a background check.

DIRECTION EXERCISED: May provide training and guidance for Buyer I and Buyer II team members.

DISCRETION EXERCISED: Relies on experience, education and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Incumbent will be expected to demonstrate creativity and latitude in order to meet goals and objectives established. Will require the capacity to self-direct and reprioritize activity in order to support business needs and meet deadlines.

LIAISES WITH: Company- Other Buyers, Sr. Procurement Manager, Strategic Sourcing Specialist, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Sr. Director Supply Chain and Logistics, Senior Management, Materials Program Managers, Material program staff, Senior Logistics Manager, Traffic Lead, Compliance Coordinator (Supply Chain), document control and other administrative department personnel. External- Suppliers

TOOLS: Basic office machines, PC, copier\scanner, etc.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must be able to tour all vessels and work sites at Austal USA.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee will also be required to sit for extended periods of time in an office setting.

Specific physical requirements include the following:

• Must have the occasional ability to bend, squat, stoop, crawl, and kneel.
• Perform prolonged standing.
• Ability to turn head from side to side and about the vertical axis.
• Ability to turn body at the waist from side to side and about the vertical axis.
• Lift/push/pull up to 20lbs on an occasional basis.
• Must have the ability to occasionally climb in an unrestrained safe manner (climbing as a minimum includes stairs, scaffolding, ladders, and ramps).
• Demonstrate good balance while working on uneven surfaces and maneuvering obstacles.
• Ability to utilize personal protective equipment (hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toes shoes, etc.) safely per OSHA standards.
• Ability to enter into confined spaces within the ships under construction (any space below main deck could be considered a confined space).
• Able to respond to verbal and audible sounds/commands.
• Able to utilize adequate visual skills.
• Able to hear emergency alarm systems and be able to wear authorized hearing protection.
• Must be able to walk 100+ yards at a time without assistance.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to humid conditions, bright flashing lights, moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, outside weather conditions, and extreme heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and/or airborne particles at or below the PEL, toxic or caustic chemicals, and heat and cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud, + 90 dB.

SAFETY:

Must comply with company, federal, state, and local safety and environmental rules and regulations while performing daily job tasks.

Equal Employment Commitment

Any qualified individual with a disability who is having difficulty in completing an application because of incompatible technology or other disability-related application issues may contact us at the following phone number for assistance: 251-445-1932.
Austal shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.  Austal’s commitment to equal employment opportunity applies at all levels of employment, in all job titles, including the executive level, and to all employment actions, including but not limited to decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion. 

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