Buyer I

Alphatec Spine•Carlsbad, CA

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. Additional responsibilities include supporting negotiations, procurement strategies, engineering changes, new product launches, returns, and invoice reconciliation; managing the MRO purchasing inbox; and recommending practical process improvements.

Requirements

Demonstrated procurement, project management, cost reduction, and process improvement skills.
Working knowledge of MRP software.
Detail-oriented with solid math skills.
Demonstrated negotiation skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
Self-directed and able to prioritize multiple projects, work independently, and contribute in a team environment.
Ability to participate in cross-functional improvements and own assigned actions through completion.
High degree of initiative and ownership.
Solid analytical skills in forecasting and anticipating production needs and capabilities.
Ability to independently use Excel formulas, pivot tables, and basic data analysis.
Ability to solve practical problems and adapt to 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, reporting, and presentations.
Relevant purchasing experience and demonstrated follow-through.
Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA); a related field is preferred.
At least 2 years of experience in a related field.

Nice To Haves

Process improvement experience in a manufacturing or medical device environment.
Project management experience and formal project management training.
Experience in a medical device environment.
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, identifying opportunities to adjust delivery timing or quantities as business needs change.
Obtain and maintain supplier commitments, monitor progress against agreed schedules, and 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.
Support new product development and launch activities by purchasing raw materials, components, and instruments for prototypes, pilot production, and initial launch requirements.
Assist with return-to-vendor (RTV) activities and reconciliation.
Work with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and supplier billing disputes.
Manage the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) purchasing inbox, ensuring requests are reviewed, routed, and addressed in a timely manner.
Identify recurring purchasing issues and recommend practical process improvements.
Perform other duties as assigned.