Buyer

Job Title: Buyer Job Description
The Buyer plays a key role in ensuring that materials, parts, and supplies are sourced, ordered, and delivered on time to support production and service operations. This position manages MRP-driven purchasing activities, maintains strong relationships with suppliers, and supports inventory and production planning. The Buyer works closely with cross-functional teams to balance material availability, cost, quality, and inventory goals while maintaining accurate documentation and adhering to safety and work rules.
Responsibilities
- Assist the Purchasing Manager with sourcing, ordering, and expediting materials, taking direct responsibility for ordering materials managed by the MRP system.
- Manage MRP changes with the supply base to ensure material availability, reviewing and validating immediate and forecasted purchase requirements.
- Update and modify purchase orders and inventory schedules as required to reflect changing demand, production needs, and service requirements.
- Schedule purchased parts to meet the required dates of the production schedule as well as service forecast and backorder requirements.
- Follow up with suppliers and expedite orders as needed to ensure on-time delivery and continuity of supply.
- Manage on-time delivery performance of the supply base by identifying and resolving constraints at the supplier level or internally.
- Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for designated suppliers for scheduling and delivery of all purchased parts in support of production and service needs.
- Develop and improve supplier relationships to enhance communication, reliability, and overall performance.
- Manage inventory balances to support inventory turns goals and customer flexibility requirements, aligning purchasing decisions with inventory strategies.
- Select vendors for the purchase of parts at the most cost-effective price while ensuring that quality standards and delivery requirements are met.
- Monitor and follow up with production as required to ensure the timely flow of manufactured materials through the factories.
- Assist with monthly cycle count records associated with the purchasing function, providing relevant information to accounting, sales, and production as required.
- Support processes related to non-conforming materials by working closely with production staff to ensure issues are identified and accurately processed in a timely manner.
- Engage hands-on with inventory storage and participate in inventory improvement projects to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Complete and maintain all required paperwork, records, documents, and electronic data related to purchasing and inventory activities.
- Analyze technical data in supplier proposals to support informed purchasing decisions and ensure alignment with specifications and requirements.
- Follow and comply with all safety and work rules and regulations, and maintain departmental housekeeping standards.
- Participate in meetings with production, accounting, sales, and management to coordinate supply chain activities and resolve issues.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support purchasing, supply chain, and inventory management functions.
Essential Skills
- Demonstrated experience with purchase order creation, management, and data entry in an ERP or MRP environment.
- Hands-on experience with procurement and supplier management, including sourcing, ordering, and expediting materials.
- Ability to manage materials via MRP (Material Requirements Planning), including reviewing requirements and adjusting plans as needed.
- Experience updating and modifying purchase orders and inventory schedules to reflect changing production and service needs.
- Strong proficiency with ERP systems; experience with JD Edwards is preferred.
- Experience aligning purchased parts with production and service schedules to meet demand and backorder requirements.
- Ability to manage inventory balances to meet inventory turns goals and customer flexibility requirements.
- Experience supporting cycle counts and non-conforming material processes within a manufacturing or supply chain environment.
- Strong Microsoft Excel and Word skills for data analysis, reporting, and documentation.
- Ability to analyze technical data in supplier proposals to support decision-making and ensure compliance with requirements.
- Professional negotiation skills for vendors, including pricing, terms, and delivery conditions.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present ideas and findings to peers and leadership.
- Strong time management and organizational abilities, including managing scheduling, follow-ups, expediting, and documentation.
- Proven problem-solving skills with a solutions-driven approach to resolving delivery or supply constraints.
- Ability to work collaboratively with production, accounting, sales, and management in a supply chain environment.
- Understanding of planning, scheduling, forecasting, and supply chain principles in a manufacturing or service setting.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, Procurement/Acquisitions, Business Analytics, International Business, Information Systems, or a closely related field is highly relevant.
- Professional certifications such as CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager), CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), CSM (Certified Supply Manager or Certified ScrumMaster, depending on context), or CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) are valuable and complement purchasing and MRP experience.
- Experience with cycle counting and inventory planning in a manufacturing or distribution environment.
- Background in forecasting and planning to support production and service requirements.
- Familiarity with supply chain processes and best practices, including vendor selection, performance management, and continuous improvement.
- Comfort working with technical specifications and manufacturing documentation when evaluating supplier proposals.
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Work Environment
This position follows a standard daytime schedule, typically working Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The role is primarily performed in an indoor office environment with frequent sitting for extended periods while working at a personal computer and using standard office equipment. The Buyer may occasionally enter manufacturing areas, where they can be exposed to noise and outdoor conditions. The position may require occasionally lifting up to 25 pounds and moving objects by lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling. Regular attendance at meetings is expected, and the role requires the ability to comprehend voices and sounds and to read and interpret visual instruments and documents. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required when entering manufacturing or warehouse areas, including but not limited to safety shoes, safety glasses, and hearing protection when conditions warrant.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Wooster, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $24.00/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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Wooster,OH.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 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 [email protected] 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.