Vendor Management Specialist Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Vendor Management Specialist Lead Job Description

The Vendor Management Specialist Lead oversees a team of vendor specialists and manages daily vendor communications for a mid-size manufacturing operation in South Seattle, WA. This role focuses on supporting 25–50 vendors, managing a shared email inbox, and ensuring customer orders align with internal manufacturing processes and schedules. The position starts as a 6‑month temporary assignment with the potential to convert to a permanent role, working a regular 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. shift. The Lead plays a key role in coordinating between customers, vendors, and production to ensure accurate order processing, timely updates, and strong customer service.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise a team of three vendor specialists, providing day-to-day guidance, coaching, and training.
• Manage a shared email inbox daily, ensuring timely and professional responses to vendor and customer inquiries.
• Support 25–50 vendors by serving as a primary point of contact and maintaining strong, service-oriented relationships.
• Review the MRP system to ensure customer order due dates align with required delivery dates and internal production schedules.
• Verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders to confirm that all process requirements are met and correctly flowed down.
• Provide continuous updates to customers on the status of their orders within the required four-hour response time.
• Communicate with customers to obtain any additional blueprints, drawings, or documentation needed for order processing.
• Coordinate closely with production teams to obtain estimated completion dates (ECDs) for orders and relay this information to customers and vendors.
• Prepare orders in ship-out or other designated areas as needed to support on-time delivery.
• Develop and maintain daily reports on order status and communicate key information to production and other stakeholders.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and management personnel on the production floor to resolve issues and ensure smooth order flow.
• Maintain a high level of customer service and professionalism in all interactions with internal and external partners.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience in customer service, preferably in a call center, manufacturing, or vendor-facing environment.
• Experience in vendor management, including supporting multiple vendors and handling vendor-related issues.
• Strong email management skills, including managing a shared inbox and prioritizing high-volume communications.
• Ability to interpret and verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders and process requirements.
• Comfort working in an aerospace or manufacturing environment and interacting with production teams.
• Customer service–oriented mindset with strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to develop and maintain daily reports on orders and communicate effectively with production.
• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) is required.
• Ability to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen and background check, as required for the role.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience in a manufacturing or aerospace environment is highly beneficial.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or training team members in a customer service or vendor management setting.
• Familiarity with MRP systems and production scheduling processes.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple vendors and competing priorities.
• Comfort communicating with managers and staff on the production floor to resolve order-related issues.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Interest in growing with a company that is expanding its facilities and operations.

Work Environment

The role is based in a manufacturing environment in South Seattle, WA, with free on-site parking and operations expanding into a newly added second building. The standard work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., providing a consistent daytime shift. The position requires regular interaction on the production floor, including direct communication with managers and production staff. The environment can be louder than a typical office, and team members may be required to wear steel-toe boots and other appropriate safety attire in designated areas. The setting is fast-paced and growth-oriented, offering exposure to manufacturing operations and opportunities to contribute to a company that is actively expanding.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Seattle, WA 98108.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $32.00 - $34.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Seattle,WA 98108.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 10, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on us.fitly.work for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.