Buyer

Job Title: Buyer Job Description
This entry-level Buyer role supports the full purchasing lifecycle by serving as the primary point of contact for end users, reviewing and processing procurement requests, and ensuring adherence to established purchasing policies and procedures. The position focuses on delivering excellent customer service, maintaining accurate purchasing records, and collaborating with internal departments and suppliers to resolve issues and optimize value across all expenditures. This role offers strong upward mobility, with opportunities to advance into higher-level procurement or strategic sourcing positions.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a customer service representative to end users, providing timely and professional support for purchasing-related inquiries.
- Act as the first point of contact for questions about the requisitioning process and procurement systems, assisting, advising, and resolving basic concerns.
- Review procurement requests for clarity, accuracy, and completeness to ensure they meet organizational requirements.
- Help optimize value across all expenditures by promoting and ensuring end-user compliance with preferred contracts, policies, and procedures.
- Advise and train campus personnel and external suppliers on purchasing policies, procedures, and system usage.
- Recommend updates or improvements to purchasing policies and procedures when appropriate.
- Maintain and review computerized or manual records of items purchased, including costs, delivery details, product performance, and inventory levels.
- Collect and analyze data to determine price reasonableness for new items and accurately document findings.
- Perform purchase order and receiving monitoring to ensure orders are processed, received, and recorded correctly.
- Inform and assist end users with closing out existing purchase orders in a timely manner.
- Collaborate with Accounts Payable and other departments to resolve delivery, suspense, quality, and payment issues related to purchases.
- Identify, configure, and maintain online goods and services catalogs to support efficient ordering.
- Monitor and follow applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies related to procurement activities.
- Use ERP and related systems to enter, track, and manage purchasing and inventory data accurately.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall effectiveness of the procurement function.
Essential Skills
- High School Diploma or GED.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in a purchasing or closely related role, or equivalent experience as defined by the stated equivalency formula.
- Foundational knowledge of purchasing and procurement processes, including requisitions, purchase orders, and vendor coordination.
- Experience using ERP systems for purchasing, procurement, or supply chain activities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel for data entry, tracking, and basic analysis of purchasing and inventory information.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications for communication and documentation.
- Ability to provide responsive customer service to end users and suppliers.
- Strong attention to detail when reviewing procurement requests and maintaining records.
- Basic understanding of supply chain and inventory principles.
- Ability to follow and apply purchasing policies, procedures, and applicable regulations.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelors degree preferred.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience in accordance with the stated equivalency formula (30 undergraduate credits or 18 graduate credits may substitute for one year of experience, with up to two years of non-related college coursework applied where permitted).
- Experience with Workday or similar ERP systems.
- Experience with Oracle or comparable enterprise systems.
- Prior hands-on purchasing or buying experience in a structured procurement environment.
- Experience with vendor management and negotiation.
- Experience maintaining online goods and services catalogs.
- Demonstrated ability to train or guide others on purchasing systems and procedures.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple requests and priorities.
- Interest in developing a career in procurement, with motivation to progress into higher-level procurement or strategic sourcing roles.
Work Environment
This role follows a Monday through Friday schedule, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position is based in a hybrid work environment, combining on-site and remote work. After the training period, the standard schedule includes two days in the office and three days working from home each week. During the initial training phase, the role requires being on-site approximately four to five days per week to ensure thorough onboarding and hands-on learning. The position operates within a university administration setting and a formal procurement department, using ERP platforms such as Workday and Oracle, along with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office tools. The work involves a professional office environment focused on collaboration, accuracy, and service to internal stakeholders, with clear opportunities for career growth into advanced procurement and strategic sourcing roles.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Baltimore, MD.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $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 hybrid position in Baltimore,MD.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 6, 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.