Buyer

Job Title: Buyer/Planner

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Buyer/Planner to join a dynamic life sciences company in San Diegos Sorrento Valley. This contract-to-hire position offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on a lean and fast-moving supply chain team. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of consumables procurement and a proven track record in the life sciences industry. If you are analytical, responsive, and thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, this role is perfect for you.

Responsibilities

• Manage the procurement and planning of consumables, including wet chemicals, organic materials, packaging, and plastics.
• Translate chemical descriptions and unit measures accurately to ensure correct purchasing and inventory management.
• Maintain and manage relationships with an established base of domestic and international suppliers, with a heavier focus on domestic suppliers.
• Process and manage purchase orders through NetSuite ERP from creation to receipt.
• Analyze procurement data and inventory levels using advanced Excel, incorporating pivot tables and VLOOKUPs into daily workflow.
• Communicate cross-functionally with manufacturing teams and suppliers to ensure material availability and production continuity.
• Support demand planning and inventory analysis to align supply with production needs.
• Execute and maintain established supplier network relationships.

Essential Skills

• 58 years of buying and planning experience.
• Mandatory life sciences industry experience.
• Consumables procurement experience, including wet consumables, chemicals, organic materials, packaging, or plastics.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret procurement data and translate technical material descriptions.
• Strong experience with NetSuite ERP preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills, including proficiency in VLOOKUPs and pivot tables.
• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with suppliers and cross-functional manufacturing teams.
• Responsive, proactive, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment with minimal oversight.
• Bachelors degree preferred.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with chemical, organic, or wet consumable procurement.
• International supplier management experience.
• Masters degree is a plus.
• Experience at a life sciences company with a strong consumables supply chain, such as Illumina, is highly relevant.
• Experience supporting a manufacturing environment within life sciences.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

The pay range for this position is $32.00 - $38.00/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)

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 27, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in San Diego,CA.

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 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.