Operational Buyer

Description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Covenant is a global defense company headquartered in Washington, D.C., building long-range precision strike weapons for the United States and its allies. Its flagship missile, Anthem, combines heavy payload and long range at a fraction of the cost of comparable legacy systems, with production volumes designed to meet the demands of prolonged conflict. Designed as an end-to-end weapon system that is simple to store, transport, and field, Anthem is produced in the United States, Germany, and Israel. For more information, visit covenantindustries.com

THE ROLE

We are seeking an assertive, detail-oriented Operational Buyer (m/f/d) to join our Procurement team in Leipzig. In this role, you will ensure resilient and efficient supply chains to support our production and large-scale defense projects.

You will take operational responsibility for procuring custom-engineered parts, raw materials, and assemblies, working closely with Production Planning, Logistics, and Quality Management to prevent material shortages and maintain uninterrupted operations.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Purchase Order Management: Take responsibility for the timely and cost-effective procurement of custom-engineered parts, assemblies, raw materials, and indirect materials for our capital goods projects.
• Supplier Management: Continuously monitor delivery schedules, proactively follow up on overdue orders, and independently resolve quantity discrepancies and quality issues in close cooperation with Quality Management.
• Request for Quotations (RFQ): Obtain and evaluate supplier quotations, prepare commercial comparisons for Strategic Procurement, and independently negotiate prices and commercial terms within your operational scope.
• Master Data Management: Maintain and optimize all procurement-related master data (prices, lead times, minimum order quantities) in our ERP system (e.g., SAP).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Production Planning, Logistics, Project Management, and Manufacturing to proactively prevent material shortages and ensure uninterrupted operations.
• Compliance & Regulatory Requirements: Ensure all procurement activities comply with applicable legal requirements, export control regulations (e.g., BAFA, ITAR), and internal compliance and security policies relevant to the defense industry.

Requirements

• Education: Successfully completed commercial or technical vocational training (e.g., industrial management or wholesale and foreign trade) or a comparable university degree focused on Supply Chain Management or Procurement.
• Experience: 2-3+ years of professional experience in operational procurement, ideally within mechanical/plant engineering, aerospace, or defense.
• ERP & IT Skills: Proficiency in commonly used ERP systems (preferably SAP MM) and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Languages: Fluent German and good English communication skills (written and spoken) for international supplier collaboration.
• Security Clearance: Willingness to undergo an official security clearance procedure (Sicherheitsüberprüfung - SÜ) due to the sensitive nature of the defense industry.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with quality management standards (e.g., ISO 9001, EN 9100).
• Initial experience or working knowledge of export control regulations (BAFA, ITAR) and information security requirements.

WHAT MAKES YOU SUCCESSFUL

• High level of reliability, assertiveness, and strong negotiation skills.
• Structured, detail-oriented approach to work with high standards of confidentiality and discretion.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative environment and communicate effectively across cross-functional teams.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Job Security: Permanent employment contract in a stable, growing, and strategically important industry.
• Competitive Compensation: Attractive, performance-based salary including Christmas and holiday bonuses.
• Flexibility: Flexible working hours and options to work remotely on selected days.
• Professional Development: Targeted training opportunities, including specialized training in export control and strategic procurement.
• Working Environment: Modern technology, collaborative culture, and flat organizational hierarchies.