Buyer

Aston Carter
Los Angeles, CA

Buyer/Procurement Specialist

Job Description

This role involves the production of diagnostic reagents, instruments, and related materials used in transplant diagnostics and clinical applications. It is critical for ensuring continuous production, effective supplier execution, and alignment between MRP demand, purchasing activity, and manufacturing schedules. The position operates with moderate autonomy and requires a proactive buyer who can anticipate and resolve supply issues before they impact production.

Responsibilities

  • Execute purchase orders from MRP signals and released production/customer orders.
  • Reschedule POs to align with demand, shortages, or supplier delays.
  • Ensure uninterrupted material flow to manufacturing.
  • Procure raw materials, supplies, and equipment critical to daily production.
  • Support manufacturing schedules and prevent line downtime.
  • Understand the production impact of late or missing materials.
  • Obtain quotes, review bids, negotiate pricing, and place orders.
  • Track supplier delivery performance (late, on-time, early).
  • Participate in supplier performance reviews within assigned commodity.
  • Resolve daily purchasing issues, shortages, and supply disruptions.
  • Identify solutions before escalation.
  • Balance cost, quality, and delivery decisions.
  • Return discrepant or non-conforming inventory.
  • Resolve invoice mismatches with suppliers and internal finance teams.
  • Ensure timely and accurate closure of discrepancies.
  • Coordinate with manufacturing, planning, quality, finance, and suppliers.
  • Communicate risks, shortages, and resolution plans clearly.
  • Ensure stakeholders are aligned on supply status.

Essential Skills

  • Strong understanding of supply planning logic.
  • High accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Ability to act quickly when demand shifts.
  • 3+ years in an ERP/MRP-driven manufacturing environment.
  • 3–5 years purchasing experience supporting manufacturing operations.
  • 3+ years managing suppliers and PO execution.
  • 3+ years in a fast-paced purchasing or supply chain role.
  • 2+ years handling inventory or invoice discrepancies.
  • 3+ years working in a cross-functional, matrixed environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or related field preferred.
  • APICS CPIM, CSCP, or similar supply chain certification is a plus but not required.
  • Experience in life sciences, diagnostics, medical device, or biotech manufacturing is advantageous.
  • GMP or regulated manufacturing exposure is beneficial.
  • Participation in cost reduction or continuous improvement initiatives is valued.
  • Advanced Excel skills for tracking shortages, supplier performance, spend analysis, and ad-hoc reporting.
  • Experience working in a high-volume, fast-paced manufacturing environment.
  • Prior ownership of defined purchasing commodities.
  • Exposure to cross-functional planning or S&OP environments.

Work Environment

This is an onsite, contingent (contract) position based in the United States, with a 40-hour workweek from Sunday to Saturday. The workweek runs from Sunday through Saturday, and all hours worked are tracked and paid based on this schedule. The role requires working closely with suppliers, managing multiple suppliers, and building relationships to ensure timely delivery and resolve potential backorder issues. The work is dynamic, intellectually engaging, and provides visibility and development within a complex manufacturing environment. The culture values initiative, accountability, and continuous improvement, offering a stable, long-term career opportunity within a highly respected global organization.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $25.00/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 fully onsite position in Los Angeles,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Mar 31, 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® 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 astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

erp systems, mrp systems, procurement, supplier management, purchase order management, inventory management, cost reduction, continuous improvement, gmp compliance, advanced excel, stakeholder management, supply planning, s&op, invoice discrepancy resolution, spend analysis, ad-hoc reporting, life sciences manufacturing, diagnostics manufacturing, medical device manufacturing, biotech manufacturing, Associate Buyer, Assistant Buyer, Category Manager, Senior Buyer, Category Analyst, Sourcing Manager, Accounts Executive & Planner & Buyer, Vendor Manager, Print Buyer, Sales Analyst
// // //