Senior Sourcing Specialist

Vast is looking for a Senior Sourcing Specialist reporting to the Manager of External Supply Chain , to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our *Hawthorne location. As a Senior Sourcing Specialist, you would utilize your vendor experience to outsource services and purchase raw materials.

*This role is based in our Hawthorne, CA facility through the end of the year and will be based in Long Beach, CA therafter.

Responsibilities: 

• Conduct comprehensive supplier analysis to formulate a strategic sourcing plan that identifies new/suitable suppliers, optimizes cost models and proactively ensures continuity of supply based on upcoming new product introduction campaign requirements
• Ensure health of supply base by evaluating and selecting suppliers based on capability, quality, reliability, and price competitiveness
• Ensure suppliers meet all critical measures of performance by consistently auditing capacity management systems and probability of successful on time delivery
• Analyze supplier operations to assess technical capability, equipment, and capacity for rapid deployment of new product development and long-term production
• Lead initiatives that support significant improvements in supplier quality, total cost, service levels, delivery, risk, compliance, and other areas as identified
• Benchmark, track, and analyze performance metrics and sourcing trends against strategic objectives
• Execute OS PO’s, document bid events through correspondence to suppliers; conduct supplier negotiations and ongoing contract management
• Coordinate with engineering and quality organizations to determine cause of rejected material and to drive appropriate changes to ensure elimination/reduction of those quality issues
• Execute purchasing transactions by issuing purchase orders for outsourced post processing as well as raw materials. 
• Drive design for manufacturability reviews with support from supplier quality and engineering
• Mitigate risk and ensure continuity of supply by constructing and executing to a well thought out supply plan that fulfills the needs of the product on time and with quality
• Be the “go to” resource for engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, and new product introduction teams when determining best value suppliers, NPI sourcing plans, make vs. buy, should cost, buy complete strategies, and lead times, etc
• Proactively update key stakeholders on all critical supply issues
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships
• Ensure compliance with all company policies and procedures and government regulations

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of sourcing experience; or associate degree and 4+ years of experience; or 6+ years of professional experience as a sourcing specialist in lieu of a degree

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Master's degree 
• 5+ years of experience with MS Office
• 10+ years of practical experience with ERP/MRP systems in a production environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel
• Experience writing queries with SQL

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to lift up to 25lbs unassisted