Buyer-Subcontractor Administrator

Oak Ridge, TN
Full Time
Mid Level

Summary

The Buyer/Subcontract Administrator is responsible for sourcing and procuring materials, equipment, and services while supporting the full subcontract lifecycle from solicitation and award through administration, compliance, and closeout. This role pairs a commercial, best-value procurement mindset with a working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and applicable agency supplements (e.g., DFARS), ensuring that prime-contract terms and required clauses flow down accurately to suppliers and subcontractors while supporting timely delivery, competitive pricing, supplier performance, and audit-ready compliance across business operations and project execution.

Responsibilities

1. Procurement / Buying (Materials, Equipment, Services)

  • Process purchase requisitions and issue purchase orders (POs) in accordance with company policies and applicable contract requirements, including FAR / DFARS clauses.
  • Source qualified suppliers; obtain, evaluate, and document quotes for price, lead time, quality, and best value.
  • Negotiate commercial terms (pricing, delivery, payment terms, warranties, freight, etc.) within delegated authority.
  • Coordinate with internal stakeholders (Project Managers, Engineering, Operations, QA, Accounting) to confirm specifications, schedules, and requirements.
  • Monitor open orders and expedite deliveries to support project schedules; resolve backorders and shipping issues.
  • Maintain accurate purchasing files and records, including quote documentation and PO terms/conditions.
  • Support inventory/material planning activities as needed (critical spares, min/max, long-lead items, etc.).
  • Identify cost savings and supplier improvement opportunities (alternate sources, consolidations, lead-time reductions).
  • Screen prospective suppliers and subcontractors for SAM.gov exclusions / debarment, OFAC and BIS restricted-party lists, TAA / Buy American compliance where required, and counterfeit-parts risk.
  • Apply appropriate cost or price analysis techniques to support best-value determinations, document competition results, and prepare sole-source justifications where required.

2. Subcontract Administration (Lifecycle Support)

  • Support development of solicitations (RFQ/RFP), including scope language, vendor instructions, and evaluation criteria.
  • Assist with subcontract selection documentation (bid tabulations, price analyses, decision rationale).
  • Draft, issue, and administer subcontracts and subcontract modifications/changes (change orders), ensuring alignment with prime contract requirements and company flowdowns.
  • Track and administer subcontract deliverables, milestones, invoices, and performance metrics.
  • Manage subcontractor communications, including clarifications, meeting coordination, and issue resolution.
  • Support subcontract closeout (final deliverables, lien releases where applicable, final invoice resolution, and file completion).
  • Ensure purchase orders and subcontracts include required terms, conditions, and applicable flowdowns
  • Assist with compliance documentation tracking as required (insurance certificates, NDAs, safety documentation, quality requirements, export controls (ITAR / EAR) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling per NIST SP 800-171 where applicable).
  • Maintain organized procurement/subcontract files that support audits, customer reviews, and internal controls.
  • Use the company’s purchasing/ERP/accounting systems to create and manage POs/subcontracts, receipts, and supporting documentation.
  • Generate routine procurement and subcontract status reports (open PO report, expediting report, subcontract milestone tracking).
  • Participate in project kickoff and planning meetings to align procurement actions with project schedules.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives related to procurement efficiency, standard templates, and process controls.

Required Qualifications
  • High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate or Bachelor’s degree preferred (Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field).
  • 3+ years of demonstrated experience procuring both services and materials/equipment in a project-based environment, including buying, subcontract administration, or supply chain roles.
  • Working knowledge of commercial purchasing best practices and supplier sourcing, combined with a working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) including how prime-contract terms and clauses flow down to suppliers and subcontractors.
  • Strong negotiation, communication, and vendor management skills.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and detailed documentation.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook); comfort working in ERP/purchasing systems.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with subcontract modifications, change control, and closeout processes.
  • Certification(s) such as CPSM, CPIM, NCMA CFCM / CPCM, or similar (or willingness to obtain).
  • Experience supporting government / federal contracting environments, including familiarity with FAR (and DFARS or other agency supplements where applicable), prime-to-sub flowdowns, and audit-ready procurement documentation.
  • Working familiarity with cost / price analysis concepts (FAR 15.404-1), competitive procurement documentation, and sole-source / J&A justifications.

Benefits:

All eligible employees enjoy an excellent benefits package, including medical/dental/vision insurance, short/long-term disability, life insurance, 401(k), paid time off including holidays, and tuition reimbursement.

EEO Statement:

MSTI is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified candidates, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. MSTI is an E-Verify employer. If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: HR@mstechnology.com.

EEO Employer/Vet/Disabled

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file


Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status



Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 05/31/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*