Buyer Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Buyer’s Assistant

Job Description

The Buyer’s Assistant supports day-to-day purchasing activities and purchase order maintenance, with a strong focus on supplier follow-up and accurate documentation. This role works closely with product engineering in the prototype group to ensure all required documentation is received from engineering and the supply base, and that all deliveries are properly receipted. The position contributes directly to efficient procurement operations, accurate records, and effective communication between internal stakeholders and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day purchasing activities and assist buyers with purchasing responsibilities, including creating, updating, and maintaining purchase orders and related spreadsheets.
• Maintain procurement records in accordance with corporate guidelines, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with internal policies.
• Coordinate with product engineering in the prototype group to obtain appropriate documentation from engineering and suppliers related to the receipting of all deliveries.
• Discuss defective or unacceptable materials or service levels with users, suppliers, and other stakeholders to determine root cause and identify corrective actions.
• Resolve payment issues by working with internal teams and suppliers to clarify discrepancies and ensure timely resolution.
• Collaborate with internal customers to develop business requirements and support process improvements within purchasing and supply chain activities.
• Solicit and retrieve supplier quotes, ensuring all relevant information is captured and documented for purchasing decisions and data analysis.
• Support and execute supplier and commodity strategies that align with plant procurement and manufacturing operations.
• Participate in technical reviews with suppliers and internal teams to support sourcing decisions and prototype activities.
• Perform data entry and order entry tasks in purchasing systems and tools, ensuring data integrity and timely updates.
• Use Microsoft Excel and the broader Microsoft Office suite to analyze purchasing data, create reports, and present conclusions to buyers and other stakeholders.
• Communicate proactively with internal and external contacts, providing updates on orders, deliveries, issues, and resolutions.
• Travel occasionally to supplier facilities and plant manufacturing locations, as required, to support procurement and supplier-related activities.

Essential Skills

• At least 6 months of experience as a purchasing or buyer’s assistant, including hands-on work with purchase orders and spreadsheets.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills at an intermediate or advanced level, with willingness to complete Excel testing as part of the selection process.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/MS Office Suite, including Excel and other core applications for documentation and communication.
• Experience with purchasing, procurement, or buyer support activities, including purchase order creation, maintenance, and follow-up.
• Familiarity with supply chain and inventory concepts related to purchasing and order management.
• Ability to perform accurate data entry and order entry in purchasing or ERP systems; experience with SAP is highly relevant.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, to interact effectively with internal customers, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
• Proactive, self-starter mindset with the ability to work independently and take initiative in resolving issues.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a structured manner.
• Ability to quickly analyze data and present clear, concise conclusions to support purchasing and business decisions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Knowledge of purchasing policies and procedures, particularly within a manufacturing or automotive context.
• Knowledge of automotive prototype commodities and services, including their unique requirements and timelines.
• Research skills to identify information, suppliers, and solutions that support purchasing and supply chain needs.
• Financial analysis experience is preferred, especially related to cost comparisons, quote analysis, or procurement metrics.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are preferred, including the ability to work with complex spreadsheets and data analysis.
• Experience with SAP or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is an advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree is a plus, with a preference for Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Prior procurement experience is a plus; automotive industry experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal customers to refine business requirements and improve processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build effective relationships with buyers, engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

This is a Contract position based out of Hamtramck, MI.

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $22.00/hr.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Hamtramck,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 23, 2026.

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® double diamond 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.