Senior Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Advanced Buyer / Advanced Procurement Specialist

Job Description

The High Level Buyer / High Level Procurement Specialist leads day-to-day purchasing activities and develops effective procurement strategies to support production, service, and vehicle development. This role negotiates pricing and purchase terms with suppliers, designs and improves purchasing processes, and mentors less-experienced team members. The position plays a key role in ensuring material availability, optimizing inventory, and supporting new product introductions in a fast-growing, manufacturing-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily sourcing and purchasing activities for a wide range of commodities, including electrical components, motors, batteries, automotive suspension, steering and safety components, hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies, fabricated metal assemblies, 3D printed parts, custom cut plastic and glass, and MRO or facilities items.
• Run Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and use Master Production Schedule (MPS) information to develop purchasing plans that ensure material availability for production and service.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders based on MRP and MPS outputs, and proactively track and resolve production shortages.
• Partner closely with Engineering to source prototype components that support rapid design iterations and new product introduction (NPI) activities.
• Manage the smooth transition of components from prototype and low-volume builds into mass production, ensuring supply continuity and cost effectiveness.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate supplier risk by developing and executing solutions to reduce the likelihood and impact of critical shortages in a challenging supply environment.
• Negotiate long-term agreements (LTAs), volume discounts, and payment terms with suppliers to achieve favorable commercial outcomes and support company objectives.
• Monitor and optimize inventory levels by managing safety stock and scheduling purchase orders to minimize excess and obsolescence while maintaining service levels.
• Develop, refine, and document purchasing processes, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency, consistency, and transparency within the procurement function.
• Use data analysis and business intelligence tools to track procurement performance, identify trends, and support data-driven decision making.
• Mentor and guide less-experienced purchasing team members through procurement analysis, supplier selection, and decision-making processes.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations, engineering, production planning, and other stakeholders to align procurement activities with broader business priorities.
• Continuously scan the market for new suppliers and sourcing options, particularly for custom-designed components, to improve quality, cost, and supply resilience.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in supply chain, engineering, or a related field and 7 years of procurement experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) and its application in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven advanced negotiation skills, including experience negotiating pricing, long-term agreements, volume discounts, and payment terms.
• Demonstrated project, process, and people leadership skills, including the ability to lead initiatives and mentor team members.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis, reporting, and decision support.
• Business intelligence reporting experience using tools such as Power BI, Fabric, SQL, or similar platforms.
• Hands-on experience in purchasing, procurement, and supply chain activities.
• Experience in supplier risk mitigation, including identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and develop actionable insights.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, production-oriented environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Masters degree in business, engineering, or a related field.
• Professional certification in a supply chain-focused discipline, such as CPIM®, CPSM®, or a similar credential.
• Experience in a procurement role supporting a manufacturing environment.
• Experience sourcing and developing new suppliers for custom-designed components.
• Experience with Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) systems and Master Production Scheduling (MPS) processes.
• Familiarity with analytics and reporting using tools such as SQL, Excel, and Power BI.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-growing organization and contribute to the elevation of a newly created role.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with engineering, operations, and other cross-functional partners.

Work Environment

This role is based on site at a manufacturing facility in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The position involves close collaboration with production, engineering, and operations teams to support ongoing manufacturing and new product introduction activities. You will work with modern business intelligence and analytics tools, including Excel, Power BI, and SQL-based platforms, to manage data and drive informed decisions. The environment emphasizes growth, process improvement, and continuous development of the procurement function, offering the opportunity to shape and elevate a newly created role.

This is a Permanent position based out of Kansas City, KS.

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $115000.00/yr.

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.

Full scope of Orange EV benefits offered

This is a Permanent position based out of Kansas City, KS.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 3, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Kansas City,KS.

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 ziprecruiter.com 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.