Procurement Assistant

AL08 - Madison
26641 Distribution Boulevard NW
Madison, AL 35756, USA

The Prototyping Manufacturing and Integration Division (PMID) of Applied Research Associates (ARA), Inc has an exciting opportunity for a full‑time Procurement Assistant working on‑site at our Madison, AL facility. A Procurement Assistant, under general supervision, will perform various routine to complex purchasing duties related to the purchase of a specific type (or types) of products; or purchasing duties related to the purchase of a wide range of products for a specific project.

The Assistant will build procurement workflows, maintain the procurement process and ensure material is ordered on time. The assistant receives inbound requests for additional material and determines proper course of action with purchasing. The Procurement Assistant will work with engineering and fabrication teams “on‑floor” to interpret Bills of Materials (BOM). The Assistant consolidates material needs from internal stakeholders to create purchase requests for the corporate purchasing team to execute.

The assistant effectively communicates, and has proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.

This position will require at minimum the ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance from the US Department of War.

Seeking in a Procurement Assistant:

• H.S. diploma or G.E.D., plus advanced training and 2‑3 years’ experience in purchasing/procurement
• Will perform all duties related to purchasing/procurement of materials for projects
• Takes independent action to ensure on‑time delivery of material and initiates action for return of rejected or unsuitable orders
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Maintain accurate, complete documentation of all formal material requests and a traceable log of materials ordered
• Creates purchase orders and ensures their accuracy
• Assist in preparing documentation and asset management tags for inventory control
• Ensure that the appropriate quantity of materials is available when needed to prevent any production disruptions caused by material shortages
• Monitor and communicate material availability and lead‑time data from potential sources to the engineering and production teams to assist in project scheduling
• Audit all material requests for accuracy such as verifying part numbers, material grades, and purchased parts to ensure the purchasing department orders correctly the first time
• Adhere to and practice safety procedures, maintain a clean and organized work environment
• Work in an environment which requires sitting, standing, reaching, grasping, bending, climbing, stooping, holding and moving items with hands, multi‑limbed coordination, finger dexterity, arm‑hand steadiness, and vision near and distance, and must be able to lift up to 50 lbs individually, 50 lbs or more with assistance
• Must wear all required personal protective equipment to include, but not limited to safety glasses, respirator, safety shoes, hearing protection and hand protection as required

Nice if you have the following but not a deal breaker:

• Active/current SECRET Clearance from the US Department of War
• Ability to read and interpret engineering BoMs, technical drawings, and material specifications

Who is ARA?
Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee‑owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2,200 employee‑owners and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics.

* Learn more about who we are and what we do by going to:

ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.