Associate Buyer

About the Role

Leidos is seeking a motivated, detail-oriented Associate Buyer to join its Shared Services Procurement organization. This role offers an excellent opportunity to build a career in supply chain management and procurement while supporting programs that deliver innovative solutions to critical missions. As an Associate Buyer, you will be part of a collaborative team responsible for purchasing materials, equipment, and services across diverse programs. You will gain hands-on experience in supplier management, purchasing, negotiations, and government contracting requirements.

Key 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.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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.

Pay Range

$45,500.00 - $82,250.00