Junior Buyer

Trident Consulting is seeking an "Associate Buyer " for one of our direct clients in “San Clemente, CA- Onsite ”. A global leader in business and technology services. Location: San Clemente, CA- Onsite 5 days Contract W2 12+ Months Rate : $27/hr on w2 Looking for 2-5 years candidate only The Associate Buyer will support R&D, Clinical, Pilot Operations, and Operations purchasing activities by helping gather sourcing requirements, creating and maintaining purchase orders, expediting materials, and communicating supplier updates under the guidance of a Buyer, Senior Buyer, or Purchasing Manager. This role is intended as an entry-level purchasing position in a regulated medical device/pharma environment, with emphasis on ERP/MRP accuracy, supplier follow-up, documentation discipline, and issue escalation. The Junior Buyer supports inventory management, supplier quality documentation, and demand-planning activities to help reduce excess and obsolete inventory while learning vendor management, pricing, and sourcing fundamentals. Requirements Responsibilities: Supports R&D / Clinical / Pilot Operations and Operations teams by gathering purchasing requirements for new product introductions and routine material needs. Creates, reviews, and updates purchase orders in the ERP system; confirms order acknowledgments, delivery dates, pricing, and quantities with suppliers. · Expedites late or at-risk orders and communicates supplier updates, shortages, and delivery risks to the Buyer/Senior Buyer or Purchasing Manager for escalation. Maintains part master, vendor, lead time, pricing, and purchase order data accuracy in the ERP/MRP system in accordance with approved procedures. Assists with basic supplier follow-up, quote requests, and vendor documentation; supports negotiations, supply agreements, and pricing analysis as directed by senior purchasing staff. · Monitors open purchase orders, past-due lines, and inventory signals; prepares basic reports to support supply continuity and reduce excess and obsolete inventory. Supports supplier quality and audit readiness by collecting required documentation, routing issues to Quality/Supply Chain partners, and maintaining purchasing records in a regulated environment. Works with demand planning and cross-functional partners to support ramp up / ramp down activities, while escalating constraints, capacity concerns, or material risks promptly. Work Experience: 2-4 years of purchasing, supply chain, operations, planning, customer service, internship, or related experience; exposure to a regulated medical device, pharmaceutical, biotech, or manufacturing environment preferred. Basic understanding of ERP/MRP systems, purchase order processing, supplier follow-up, inventory transactions, and data accuracy; Oracle, SAP, or similar system experience preferred. Ability to manage multiple open tasks and priorities with guidance, follow standard work, meet deadlines, and escalates issues appropriately. Able to work in a quality system and regulated environment by following approved procedures, maintaining accurate records, and supporting audit-ready documentation. Strong attention to detail, analytical curiosity, and comfort working with spreadsheets, purchase order data, supplier confirmations, and inventory reports. Good oral and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with suppliers and cross-functional internal partners. Computer literacy required, including Microsoft Office; Excel skills such as basic formulas, filtering, sorting, and data review preferred. Good organizational skills and willingness to learn purchasing fundamentals, supplier management, and regulated supply chain processes.

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