Sr. Buyer/Planner (2026-123) Astronics Subsidiary Astronics AES Location Redmond, WA Description **Astronics Advanced Electrical Systems** is seeking a **Sr. Buyer/Planner** to join our cohesive Supply Chain Team in **Redmond, WA.** If you are interested in working at a dynamic company with a winning culture which has **won awards as one of Washington's Best Places to work for 16 years consecutively, please read on!** **JOB SUMMARY** As our **Sr. Buyer/Planner** , you'll harness your expertise in contract manufacturing, cable assemblies, and electronic components to navigate the dynamic seas of procurement with finesse. Armed with a deep understanding of market trends, fierce competition insights, and a knack for strategic sourcing, you'll be pivotal in shaping our procurement strategies. **ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS** The Sr. Buyer/Planner applies company standards, policies, procedures, and best practices in performing the following: + Develops and maintains new and existing supplier relationships: + Gathers research and analyze information, evaluating suppliers based on quality, price, service, support, lead times, reliability, production and distribution capabilities and supplier reputation and history. + Draws on internal cross functional resources to complete supplier selection and qualification. + Monitors performance and supplier relationship to ensure compliance to agreements, including sharing of AES forecasts. + May visit suppliers to further develop relationships and gain better understanding of their business. + Cultivates relationship by navigating supplier hierarchy and system to ensure access to the right contact for the situation. Effectively escalates performance concerns within the supplier organization, as required. + Coordinates with SQE to drive root cause/corrective action with suppliers. + Reaches out to distribution partners to find potential suppliers/sources of hard-to-find parts. + Evaluates vendor performance and relative risk, developing new supply sources where vendors and suppliers are no longer competitive or performing. + Monitors inventory levels of assigned commodities and parts, revising order point levels and order quantities to optimize inventory investment. + May provide lead role in business reviews and/or periodic supplier business reviews (SBR) + Initiates work transfer: + Conducts a strategic selection of suppliers. + Coordinates the movement of product. + Generates a proposal of opportunity. + Conducts a risk analysis. + Facilitates steps toward product movement. + Create long term, multi-year agreements, setting out terms and conditions outside of standard terms: + Negotiate and implement agreements for new and existing suppliers. + Negotiates terms. + Provides input into the development of best practices, processes, procedures, and guidelines. + Responds to purchase requisitions and MRP demand with alternative solutions, understanding and anticipating the need behind the request and providing appropriate alternatives accordingly. + Initiate and participate in continuous improvement projects and project teams as required, often taking a leadership role. + Mentor and provide guidance to Buyer/Planner. May distribute work assignments according to experience and expertise. + Strong data analytical skills and understanding with ability to transform data into usable format for analysis and action. This position may require knowledge of SOX / 404 internal audit controls and related documentation. **MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS** **Education/Experience:** + Bachelor's degree from four-year college and/or a combination of certifications (APICS and/or CPSM) and/ or 5-8 years of experience in a related manufacturing environment. + Lean manufacturing and/or Six Sigma a plus. + Demonstrates familiarity in the essential functions of the position including: + Supplier development through business reviews and scorecard management + Purchase Order lifecycle management and shortage mitigation tasks + Supplier quality strategies including evaluation of effective corrective action. + Manufacturing environment in a related industry preferred. **Competencies:** The Sr. Buyer/Planner will display the following competencies: + **Analyzing Data or Information:** Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into logical groupings. + **Negotiation:** Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences using negotiation planners. + **Persuasion:** Persuading others to change their minds or behavior. + **Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:** Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. + **Making Decisions and Solving Problems:** Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. + **Critical Thinking:** Using logic and reasoning to identify th