Structures Purchasing Manager

This role will be located in Bristow, Oklahoma The Structures Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading the purchasing and sourcing activities supporting the company’s aircraft structures MRO operations. This role ensures the timely and cost-effective procurement of aircraft structural parts, raw materials, components, hardware, and services required to support maintenance, repair, modification, and overhaul activities.

The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of aviation purchasing and supply chain practices, experience with aircraft structures or MRO operations, and the ability to build strong supplier relationships while balancing cost, quality, availability, and turnaround time. Essential Job Functions: Lead purchasing activities for the structures MRO operations, ensuring required materials and services are available to support production and customer commitments.

Develop and execute purchasing strategies for aircraft structural components, sheet metal materials, hardware, fasteners, composites, and related materials. Review material requirements, work scopes, repair orders, and production schedules to identify current and upcoming purchasing needs. Source aircraft parts, materials, and services from qualified aviation suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, repair vendors, and other approved sources.

Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations based on price, availability, lead time, quality, and applicable documentation requirements. Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, freight, warranties, and other commercial terms with suppliers. Issue and manage purchase orders while ensuring accuracy of quantities, pricing, delivery requirements, and specifications.

Monitor open purchase orders and proactively address delays, shortages, backorders, and other supply issues. Partner closely with Structures Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Materials Management to ensure purchasing activities support production schedules and MRO turnaround requirements. Identify potential material shortages and develop alternative sourcing solutions to prevent production delays.

Build and maintain a reliable supplier network capable of supporting both routine and time-sensitive MRO requirements. Develop strong relationships with strategic suppliers and regularly evaluate supplier performance. Work with Quality to ensure purchased materials and components meet applicable FAA, EASA, customer, and company requirements.

Ensure required certification and traceability documentation is obtained and maintained, including applicable FAA Form 8130-3, EASA Form 1, Certificate of Conformance, and material certification documentation. Research and identify alternate sources for hard-to-find, obsolete, or long-lead structural components and materials.

Support AOG and other expedited requirements by quickly identifying available material and coordinating expedited purchasing and delivery. Review purchasing trends and market conditions to identify cost-saving and sourcing opportunities. Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information within the company’s ERP system.

Monitor purchasing metrics including cost, lead time, supplier performance, on-time delivery, and material availability. Identify and implement process improvements that increase purchasing efficiency and reduce material-related production delays. Maintain compliance with company purchasing procedures and applicable aviation regulatory requirements.

Assist with inventory planning and stocking strategies for commonly used Structures materials and hardware. Support supplier audits, corrective actions, and performance improvement initiatives as needed. Develop and maintain purchasing procedures, workflows, and documentation for the structures MRO operations. Provide regular reporting to leadership regarding purchasing activity, material shortages, supplier issues, and cost opportunities.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Aviation, Operations, or a related field preferred. 5+ years of purchasing, procurement, materials management, or supply chain experience. Travel Required across business units. 40% travel expected Previous experience in aviation, aerospace, MRO, manufacturing, or a similarly regulated environment.

Experience purchasing aircraft parts, structural components, raw materials, hardware, or related aviation products preferred. Strong understanding of purchasing processes, supplier management, and inventory requirements. Experience negotiating pricing, terms, and delivery requirements with suppliers. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced MRO environment. Strong communication and negotiation skills. Experience working with ERP or purchasing management systems.