Buyer I

Alphatec Spine•Carlsbad, CA

2h•$75,000 - $85,000

About The Position

The Buyer I is responsible for purchasing execution for assigned product lines, from requisition review and purchase order placement through delivery and discrepancy resolution. The role evaluates demand, inventory, lead times, and supplier requirements to balance material availability with inventory and spending objectives. The Buyer I maintains accurate purchasing records, monitors supplier commitments, communicates supply risks, and coordinates with internal teams and suppliers to resolve issues. The position also supports negotiations, procurement strategies, engineering changes, new product launches, returns, and invoice reconciliation; manages the MRO purchasing inbox; and recommends practical process improvements.

Requirements

Minimum undergraduate bachelor's degree (BS/BA); preferably in a related field.
Minimum 2 years of experience in a related field.
Proven procurement, project management, cost reduction, and process improvement skills.
Working knowledge of MRP software.
Detail orientation and solid math skills.
Proven negotiation skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate effectively with internal and external parties at all levels.
Ability to prioritize multiple projects, work independently and in a team, and demonstrate initiative and ownership.
Solid analytical skills in forecasting and anticipating production needs and capabilities.
Ability to use Excel formulas, pivot tables, and basic data analysis independently.
Ability to solve practical problems and handle changing situations in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to energize and influence cross-functional project teams and individuals, including internal and external resources at all levels.
Computer literacy applied to scheduling and data management.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflicting interests and obtain cooperation.
Experience with Microsoft Office and other applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and Visio, to support project work, inventory modeling, management reporting, and presentations.
Relevant purchasing experience and demonstrated follow-through.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer visa sponsorship.
For U.S. roles requiring access to hospital facilities, candidates must be eligible for and maintain credentials at required hospitals and meet applicable physical and vaccination requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a related field, preferably in a medical device environment.
Process improvement experience within a manufacturing or medical device environment.
Project management experience and formal project management training.
Functional certification desired or in progress, such as APICS, Six Sigma, CPM, CPIM, CPCM, or PMI.

Responsibilities

Own purchasing execution for assigned product lines, including requisition review, purchase order placement, supplier acknowledgment, delivery follow-up, and discrepancy resolution.
Evaluate demand, inventory availability, open purchase orders, lead times, and minimum order quantities to determine appropriate order quantities and delivery schedules.
Balance material availability with inventory and spending objectives; identify opportunities to adjust delivery timing or quantities as business needs change.
Obtain and maintain supplier commitments, monitor progress against agreed schedules, and promptly address missed milestones or delivery changes.
Communicate material shortages and supply risks to affected teams, including business impact, recovery actions, and support needed.
Maintain accurate purchase order dates, quantities, pricing, and supplier commitments in the ERP system.
Assist with pricing and delivery negotiations, supplier selection, and supplier management within established purchasing guidelines.
Support procurement strategies, including supplier consolidation, kanban, vendor-managed inventory (VMI), and identification of alternative supply sources.
Coordinate with Planning, Operations, Quality, Engineering, and suppliers to resolve issues affecting material availability and order completion.
Support engineering change orders and resolution of nonconformances and receiving discrepancies.
Purchase raw materials, components, and instruments for prototypes, pilot production, and initial launch requirements in support of new product development and launch activities.
Assist with return-to-vendor (RTV) activities and reconciliation.
Work with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and supplier billing disputes.
Manage the MRO purchasing inbox, ensuring requests are reviewed, routed, and addressed in a timely manner.
Identify recurring purchasing issues and recommend practical process improvements.
Participate in cross-functional improvements and own assigned actions through completion.
Perform other duties as assigned.