Procurement Specialist

Procurement Specialist, Location: Long Beach Area

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Procurement Specialist to manage purchasing, coordinate with vendors, and ensure materials arrive on time to support production and customer orders. This role requires strong follow-through, sound judgment, and clear communication. The ideal candidate can manage daily purchasing details while evaluating alternatives, identifying potential problems, and recommending practical improvements.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, issue, and track purchase orders, ensuring accurate pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates.
• Manage vendor relationships, request and compare quotations, negotiate purchasing terms, and resolve order discrepancies.
• Monitor open orders and follow up proactively with suppliers to ensure on‑time delivery.
• Identify delays early and coordinate solutions with internal teams.
• Work closely with production and sales to understand demand, plan purchases, and align material availability with production schedules and customer commitments.
• Review inventory and purchasing needs to help prevent shortages and unnecessary excess stock.
• Research alternative suppliers and parts, coordinating with engineering and quality on technical requirements and approvals.
• Prepare basic cost analyses in Excel to evaluate vendor or part changes, considering unit pricing, freight, minimum order quantities, tooling costs, and other relevant factors.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, vendor information, and order status in company systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes, reduce costs, and strengthen supplier performance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Strong reasoning and problem‑solving abilities, including the ability to evaluate options and explain recommendations clearly.
• Strong writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with suppliers and internal teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, organizing and analyzing data, and preparing cost comparisons.
• Strong ability to learn new software, technology, and business systems.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and take ownership of tasks through completion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience at a startup or a growing company where priorities change and employees take on a broad range of responsibilities.
• Familiarity with ERP, inventory management, or purchasing software.
• #MS-DH