Associate Buyer

Description

Start your procurement career with Leidos! Leidos currently has an exciting opportunity for an Associate Buyer to join our Shared Services Procurement organization. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated, detail-oriented individual looking to build a career in supply chain management and procurement while supporting programs that deliver innovative solutions to some of our customers' most critical missions.

As an Associate Buyer, you'll become part of a collaborative procurement team responsible for purchasing materials, equipment, and services that support a diverse range of programs across Leidos. Working alongside experienced procurement professionals, you'll gain hands-on experience in supplier management, purchasing, negotiations, and government contracting requirements.

We're looking for someone who is organized, eager to learn, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, and excited about developing new skills. Whether you're a recent college graduate or looking to begin a career in procurement, Leidos offers the opportunity to grow your expertise while making a meaningful contribution to our business.

Launch your career with Leidos! Through hands-on training, mentorship, teamwork, and exposure to a wide variety of procurement activities, we'll help you build the foundation for a successful career in supply chain management.

2. Primary Responsibilities

• Process routine purchase requests for materials, equipment, and services in accordance with established procurement policies and procedures.
• Prepare and issue requests for quotations (RFQs) to suppliers, obtain pricing and delivery information, and assist in evaluating supplier responses.
• Review purchase requisitions for accuracy and completeness, working with internal customers to obtain missing information or resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders within assigned purchasing authority and established guidelines.
• Communicate with suppliers regarding pricing, availability, delivery schedules, order status, and other routine purchasing matters.
• Assist with basic price analysis, supplier selection, and negotiations to support competitive pricing and favorable purchasing terms.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and supporting documentation in accordance with company policies and applicable government contracting requirements.
• Monitor open purchase orders, follow up on supplier deliveries, and assist in resolving routine order discrepancies.
• Collaborate with internal customers, program teams, and other procurement professionals to support timely and accurate purchasing activities.
• Develop a working knowledge of procurement processes, purchasing systems, supplier management practices, and applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency, accuracy, and customer service.
• Escalate complex purchasing issues to senior buyers or management for guidance and resolution.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field with less than two years of relevant professional experience; or
• Four years of related professional experience in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
• Equivalent combinations of related education and experience may be considered in accordance with Leidos' established equivalency guidelines.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in documentation and data entry.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with internal customers, teammates, and suppliers.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to analyze information, identify discrepancies, and resolve routine problems using established procedures and guidance.
• Demonstrated willingness to learn new systems, processes, and procurement requirements.
• Ability to work independently on assigned tasks while recognizing when additional guidance or escalation is needed.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment.

• Internship, academic coursework, or previous work experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, logistics, business operations, or a related field.
• Familiarity with basic purchasing processes, supplier relationships, or purchase order management.
• Exposure to enterprise resource planning (ERP) or purchasing systems, such as Deltek Costpoint, SAP, Oracle, or similar applications.
• Basic understanding of government contracting requirements, including FAR and DFARS.
• Experience using Microsoft Excel to organize, analyze, or report data.
• Customer service experience demonstrating effective communication, responsiveness, and problem-solving skills.
• Interest in developing skills in supplier negotiations, price analysis, contract administration, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work collaboratively with multiple internal stakeholders.