A Purchasing Manager with DoD contract experience oversees the acquisition of supplies, services, and construction through purchase, rental, or lease, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations, cost-effectiveness, quality standards and oversight of production planners. This role is critical in both the private sector and the Department of Defense, where procurement must meet strict contract, security, and compliance requirements. This is considered a working management position that is expected to perform purchasing/planning tasks when needed.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Procurement Planning: Develop and implement purchasing strategies aligned with organizational goals, including cost reduction, quality improvement, and timely delivery. This role will also have a responsibility of purchasing/planning for approximately 33% of the time.
- Supply Chain Management: Maintain and evaluate relationships with suppliers, conduct market research, and identify new vendors while ensuring compliance with DoD sourcing rules and FAR/DFARS requirements.
- Contract Negotiation: Negotiate terms, pricing, and delivery schedules to secure the best value for the organization, with attention to compliance, risk mitigation, and contract performance.
- Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure all procurement activities adhere to federal acquisition regulations, contract clauses, and DoD-specific requirements; implement risk management procedures to prevent shortages or non-compliance.
- Cost Analysis & Benchmarking: Perform cost analyses, set benchmarks, and identify opportunities for savings while maintaining quality.
- Team Leadership: Supervise purchasing and planning staff, delegate tasks, and train team members on procurement and planning processes, compliance, and contract management.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with legal, finance, operations, engineering and program management to ensure procurement and planning support critical needs. Close working relationship with Finance department ensuring the Purchasing department adheres to all contractual flow-down requirements and that processes are being followed.
- Inventory: Manage inventory controls/inventory levels, production planning and coordinate with Logistics Manager to ensure timely delivery of goods and services for both customer deliverables and ensure timely deliveries of work orders to the production floor. Work closely with Logistics Manager to ensure shipping/receiving/inventory control are clear on priorities.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, procurement, or related field; advanced degrees or certifications (e.g., C.P.M., C.P.M. – Supply Chain).
- Experience: Minimum 5–7 years in purchasing/procurement, with at least 3 years in a DoD or federal acquisition environment; experience with delivery orders, small purchase procedures, and contract management. Minimum 2-4 years managing of direct reports.
- Knowledge: Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), commercial supply sources, pricing, discounts, units of measurement, deliveries, stocks, and shipments.
- Skills: Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving abilities; proficiency in procurement software and contract management systems; ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
- Compliance & Security: Understanding of DoD security requirements, contract compliance, and risk management in federal procurement.
Work Environment
- Office-based with possible travel to contract sites or supplier locations.
- Requires attention to detail, adherence to strict compliance standards, and ability to work in a regulated, mission-driven environment.
