Buyer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Buyer – Underbody and Chassis Components
Job Description

The Buyer will support the customer service division purchasing organization with a focus on underbody and chassis components. This role combines strategic and transactional purchasing activities, including managing purchase orders, negotiating with suppliers, resolving backorders, and overseeing complex supplier portfolios. The ideal candidate communicates clearly, is comfortable navigating conflict to reach solutions, demonstrates strong business acumen, and works with a high degree of self-motivation in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Purchase goods, materials, components, and services in line with specified cost, quality, and delivery targets.
• Handle both strategic and transactional purchasing activities for underbody and chassis components, including managing purchase orders and supplier portfolios.
• Support the purchasing function and other relevant departments by communicating any supply issues that may impact business operations.
• Act as an interface between suppliers and internal departments on purchasing processes, new projects, and ongoing activities.
• Monitor and report on issues that present risk or opportunity to the organization, and escalate as appropriate.
• Track market trends, competitor strategies, and supplier developments to inform purchasing decisions.
• Analyze costs for new and existing parts and support cost reduction activities.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in procurement to identify and implement continuous improvement and broader business improvement opportunities.
• Negotiate contracts and improve prices and terms of business with suppliers using negotiation and procurement best practices.
• Build, maintain, and manage strong supplier relationships and ensure clear, consistent communication.
• Conduct research to identify new components and potential suppliers to support sourcing strategies.
• Compile and analyze supplier performance data to support supplier evaluation and decision-making.
• Contact suppliers to resolve price discrepancies, quality concerns, delivery issues, and invoice problems.
• Resolve supplier shortages and past-due situations to protect customer service levels.
• Update and maintain commodity strategies to align with business objectives and market conditions.
• Work with cost estimating teams to develop cost estimates for savings negotiations and to mitigate supplier price increase requests.
• Produce weekly reports, charts, and status updates on open assignments and projects.
• Perform market tests, analyze supplier responses, and award sourcing of parts based on defined criteria.
• Review vehicles off road (VOR) and backorders on a weekly basis and expedite parts delivery as needed.
• Maintain strong organization and prioritization across multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• 1–5 years of experience in purchasing, with a focus on automotive or original equipment (OE) purchasing.
• Hands-on experience in purchasing or procurement, including purchase order creation, processing, and management.
• Proven ability to manage supplier relationships and complex supplier portfolios.
• Strong negotiation skills, including experience negotiating pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers.
• Experience with Ariba or I-ERP systems for purchase order processing.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, with the ability to analyze data and support decision-making (testing required).
• Demonstrated ability to perform data analysis related to costs, supplier performance, and market trends.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey information and influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Comfort working through conflict with suppliers and internal partners to reach effective solutions.
• High level of organization and attention to detail, with experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Motivated, self-starting, and solution-oriented approach to work.
• Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple assignments and deliverables.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

• SAP experience supporting purchasing or procurement activities.
• Additional Ariba experience beyond basic purchase order processing.
• Proven record of successful supplier negotiations leading to cost savings or improved terms.
• Experience in supplier relationship management and collaboration on continuous improvement initiatives.
• Familiarity with market testing processes, including analyzing responses and awarding sourcing decisions.
• Experience producing regular reports and dashboards on purchasing activities and project status.
• Exposure to open-concept, team-based environments that emphasize collaboration.
• Interest in working within a culture that emphasizes putting people first, doing the right thing, curiosity, innovation, resilience, performance, and teamwork.

This position operates in a hybrid work model, currently requiring onsite presence typically Monday through Thursday with work-from-home on Friday, and may transition to five days onsite depending on organizational direction. Standard work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a one-hour unpaid lunch, for a 40-hour workweek. The role is based in a renovated, open-concept office where the entire purchasing team sits together, fostering a highly collaborative and team-oriented environment. Business casual dress is expected, such as khakis or dress pants paired with a button-down shirt or blouse. The culture emphasizes a family- and team-oriented atmosphere grounded in shared beliefs: putting people first, doing the right thing, encouraging curiosity, creating for the future, building resilient solutions, striving to win, and working together as one unified team. The work involves regular use of procurement technologies and tools, including Ariba, I-ERP, Microsoft Excel, and potentially SAP, in a fast-paced setting that values continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration.

Job Type & Location

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

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $40.00/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 hybrid position in Dearborn,MI.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 24, 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.