Associate Manager, Purchasing

The Associate Manager of Purchasing leads the procurement, tracking, and lifecycle management of automotive part samples critical to product development and quality assurance. This is a high-impact role requiring a blend of technical automotive knowledge and leadership to ensure proper oversight and execution of purchasing directives. The Associate Manager ensures the seamless flow of materials from global and local vendors, manages order lifecycles from request to delivery, and provides stakeholders with data-driven updates. Beyond simple transactions, this role is responsible for strategic vendor negotiation, budget accountability, and leading a high-performing procurement team. WhatYou’llDo Strategic Sourcing & Evaluation: Identify and vet suppliers based on technical compliance, lead times, and pricing. Proactively seek bulk discounts and strategic partnerships to optimize the procurement budget. Lifecycle Order Management: Oversee the full procurement cycle—from receiving requests from Product Management/QC to final delivery—ensuring all part specifications and quantities are strictly met. Advanced Tracking & Reporting: Supervise the maintenance of the centralized purchasing log. Ensure all ETAs are accurate and internal stakeholders receive real-time updates on order statuses. Team Leadership: Supervise direct reports, delegating tasks effectively to ensure 100% coverage of sourcing requests and vendor follow-ups. Work directly with appropriate parties for all daily payroll needs for their team. Back-Order Mitigation: Rapidly assess alternatives for back-ordered parts. Lead the team in pivoting to new suppliers or sourcing methods to prevent project delays. Financial Oversight & Compliance: Partner with Accounts Payable to ensure all invoices, receipts, and expense reports are submitted accurately and on time. Audit monthly spending against deliverables. Logistics Coordination: Compile and verify detailed packing lists, collaborating with Development and QC teams to ensure parts are routed correctly upon arrival. Vendor Relations: Build and maintain rapport with dealerships and local suppliers. Proactively follow up on delayed shipments and take corrective action to resolve logistics bottlenecks. Continuous Improvement: Reevaluate purchasing habits regularly to identify better sourcing options and more efficient workflows. Qualifications Strategic Negotiation: Proven ability to build vendor rapport and negotiate favorable terms (e.g., bulk pricing, expedited shipping). Automotive Expertise: Deep understanding of OEM/OES parts, makes, models, and dealer parts counter systems (e.g., EPCs). Project Management: Ability to manage 20+ concurrent sample requests with a focus on a two-week turnaround. Systems Proficiency: Intermediate to Advanced Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Teams. Communication: High-level verbal and written skills for cross-functional collaboration and external vendor management. Self-Starter Mentality: A "no downtime" approach to checking in parts and initiating new requests immediately upon receipt. Must Haves High School Diploma or GED 3+ years of experience in automotive parts (sales, sourcing, service writing, or counter experience) 3+ years of leadership or management experience with a focus on task delegation. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook) Ability to professionally communicate verbally and written Nice to Haves Education: Degree or certificate in Automotive Technology Certification: ASE Certification (P2 Parts Specialist or similar) Experience: Background in accounting or heavy expense reporting Physical Demands & Requirements Physical Effort : Occasional to frequent lifting and carrying of up to 50 lbs. Position involves a combination of stationary work and frequent movement throughout the facility and across multiple levels. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Legal : Must be 18+ years of age and legally authorized to work in the United States. Pre-employment : Ability to pass a post‑offer background check and drug screen. Equal Opportunity Employer AIT Corporation DBA TrakMotive is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Fair Chance & Accommodations Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). #J-18808-Ljbffr Advanced Innovative Technology Corp