Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Buyer

Job Description

The Buyer supports a busy supply chain team by managing purchase orders, coordinating with suppliers, and ensuring accurate, timely data in the ERP system. This role focuses on faster purchase order processing and confirmations, reducing past due and unconfirmed lines, and improving visibility into supply chain performance. The Buyer provides immediate support on past due orders, supplier follow-ups, and purchase order execution to reduce backlog, minimize expedite costs, and lower production risk. This is a mid-level position best suited for someone with hands-on purchasing experience who thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment and wants to contribute directly to production continuity and on-time customer delivery.

Responsibilities

• Process purchase orders quickly and accurately, ensuring timely creation, release, and maintenance of purchase orders in the ERP system.
• Monitor purchase order confirmations and follow up proactively to reduce past due and unconfirmed lines.
• Communicate regularly with suppliers to respond to inquiries, clarify requirements, and maintain strong vendor relationships.
• Ensure data accuracy and real-time visibility of purchasing activities within the IFS ERP or similar systems.
• Provide immediate support on past due orders, including supplier follow-ups and escalation when necessary to resolve issues.
• Drive purchase order execution by tracking order status, delivery dates, and changes, and updating records accordingly.
• Work to reduce backlog and improve visibility into open orders and supply commitments.
• Help reduce expedite costs and production risk by anticipating supply issues and taking proactive actions with suppliers.
• Manage past due and unconfirmed purchase order lines, driving resolution through continuous communication and follow-up.
• Coordinate supplier delivery commitments and expedite orders when required to meet production and customer schedules.
• Support supplier onboarding and setup, including gathering and maintaining compliance documentation.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams such as planning, production, and quality to align on priorities and resolve supply issues.
• Operate effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced procurement environment with multiple competing priorities.
• Multitask and adapt quickly in a reactive supply chain environment where priorities frequently shift.
• Contribute to supply chain performance improvement initiatives and support recovery of key performance indicators (KPIs) when needed.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 3 years of purchasing experience in a mid-level buyer capacity.
• Hands-on experience placing, releasing, and maintaining purchase orders in an ERP system.
• Proven experience managing past due and unconfirmed purchase order lines and driving resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to expedite orders and coordinate supplier delivery commitments.
• Experience supporting supplier onboarding, setup, and compliance documentation.
• Comfort working in a high-volume, fast-paced procurement environment with competing priorities.
• Strong communication skills for coordinating with suppliers and internal cross-functional teams.
• Ability to multitask and adapt quickly in a reactive supply chain environment.
• Experience with purchasing, supplier management, and purchase order processes.
• Experience working with ERP systems (IFS ERP experience is a plus but not required).
• supply chain operations, including quoting and vendor communication.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in life sciences, medical device, or medical instruments industries is preferred.
• Experience in defense, DoD, or electronics industries is also considered relevant.
• Familiarity with IFS ERP is beneficial but not a strict requirement.
• Experience contributing to KPI recovery or supply chain performance improvement initiatives is a plus.
• Ability to integrate into an established supply chain team and contribute quickly.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in managing multiple purchase orders and suppliers.

Work Environment

The role is part of a mid-size supply chain team that includes buyers, and planners who are cross-trained in buying activities. The team is currently stretched and operating in a reactive mode, which creates a strong need for a flexible Buyer who can help stabilize and improve performance. The work environment is collaborative and fast-paced, with shifting priorities and high volumes of procurement activity. The position is fully onsite, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The organization operates in the medical and life sciences space, and the work directly supports production and customer delivery, offering meaningful impact and immediate visibility for your contributions. This is a 6-month contract role with the potential to convert to a permanent position for the right candidate, and you will be joining an established team that values adaptability, teamwork, and clear communication.

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

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $35.00/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 Escondido,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 31, 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® 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.