Buyer

Job Title: Buyer

Job Description

The Buyer will support a service parts purchasing organization by managing both strategic and transactional procurement activities for service parts commodities. This role combines hands-on purchase order management, supplier negotiations, and data-driven analysis to ensure goods and services meet cost, quality, and delivery targets. The Buyer will work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, acting as a key liaison between suppliers and internal teams while proactively resolving issues, driving cost savings, and supporting continuous improvement across the supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Purchase goods, materials, components, and services in line with specified cost, quality, and delivery targets.

• Handle day-to-day strategic and transactional purchasing activities, including managing purchase orders, supplier negotiations, back orders, and complex supplier portfolios.

• Support the purchasing function and other relevant departments by communicating 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 advise on issues that present risk or opportunity to the organization, escalating and resolving them as appropriate.

• Monitor market trends, competitor strategies, and market suppliers to inform sourcing decisions.

• Provide cost analysis for new and existing parts and support cost reduction initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with colleagues in procurement to identify and implement continuous improvement and business improvement opportunities.

• Negotiate contracts, prices, and terms of business with suppliers, using negotiation and procurement best practices to achieve savings.

• Build, maintain, and manage strong supplier relationships and ensure consistent, professional communication.

• Conduct research to identify new components and potential suppliers to support sourcing strategies.

• Compile and maintain data related to supplier performance to support evaluation and decision-making.

• Contact suppliers to resolve issues related to price, quality, delivery, or invoices.

• Resolve supplier shortages and past-due situations to protect service levels and customer satisfaction.

• Update and maintain commodity strategies in alignment with organizational goals.

• 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 for leadership and stakeholders.

• Perform market tests, analyze supplier responses, and award sourcing of parts based on defined criteria.

• Review open vehicles off road (VOR) and backorders on a weekly basis and expedite parts delivery as needed.

• Gather data, analyze issues, and develop practical solutions to purchasing and supply chain challenges.

• Operate as a strong communicator who is comfortable addressing conflict and driving resolution with suppliers and internal partners.

Essential Skills

• 3-10 years of experience in purchasing, with a focus on purchasing or procurement responsibilities.

• Automotive or original equipment (OE) purchasing experience.

• Proven experience as a buyer or purchasing professional handling purchase orders, supplier negotiations, and supplier portfolios.

• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to secure favorable terms, pricing, and conditions.

• Experience in purchasing/procurement and supplier relationship management.

• Hands-on experience with Ariba and I-ERP systems for purchase order processing.

• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to perform data analysis (testing required).

• Demonstrated ability to perform data analysis to support purchasing decisions and cost reduction activities.

• Strong organization skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate with suppliers and cross-functional teams.

• Comfort working through conflict and addressing issues directly with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

• Motivated, self-starter, and solution-oriented mindset.

• Ability to work collaboratively with procurement and cross-functional teams to support continuous improvement.

• Completed bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• SAP experience.

• Additional Ariba experience beyond basic purchase order processing.

• Proven record of successful negotiations leading to cost savings or improved terms.

• Project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.

• Experience using ERP systems to support purchasing and procurement activities.

• Experience in supplier performance evaluation and reporting.

• Strong business acumen and understanding of supply chain principles.

• Curiosity and a continuous improvement mindset aligned with a culture that values putting people first, doing the right thing, being curious, creating tomorrow, building tough, playing to win, and working as one team.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $55.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Dearborn,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 14, 2026.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) 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.