Buyer

Aston Carter•Baltimore, MD

7d•$20 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

This entry-level Buyer role supports the full purchasing lifecycle and serves as the primary point of contact for end users. The Buyer reviews and processes procurement requests, helps ensure compliance with purchasing policies and procedures, and provides customer service to internal users and suppliers. The role maintains accurate purchasing records and works with internal departments and suppliers to resolve issues and optimize value across expenditures. It offers opportunities to advance into higher-level procurement or strategic sourcing positions. The position is based in Baltimore, Maryland, in a hybrid work environment. Following the training period, the usual schedule is two days in the office and three days working from home. The Monday-through-Friday schedule is typically 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is a contract-to-hire position. The stated pay range is $20.00–$24.00 per hour, with compensation dependent on factors such as qualifications, relevant experience, job knowledge, location, and internal equity.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of experience in a purchasing or closely related role.
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.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Additional education may substitute for required experience according to 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 ability to manage multiple requests and priorities.
Interest in developing a procurement career and progressing into higher-level procurement or strategic sourcing roles.

Responsibilities

Serve as a customer service representative to end users, providing timely and professional support for purchasing inquiries.
Act as the first point of contact for questions about requisitioning and procurement systems, assisting users and resolving basic concerns.
Review procurement requests for clarity, accuracy, completeness, and compliance with organizational requirements.
Promote and ensure compliance with preferred contracts, policies, and procedures to optimize value across expenditures.
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 purchasing records, including costs, delivery details, product performance, and inventory levels.
Collect and analyze data to determine price reasonableness for new items and document findings accurately.
Monitor purchase orders and receiving to ensure orders are processed, received, and recorded correctly.
Inform and assist end users with closing existing purchase orders in a timely manner.
Collaborate with Accounts Payable and other departments to resolve delivery, suspense, quality, and payment issues.
Identify, configure, and maintain online goods and services catalogs.
Monitor applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies related to procurement.
Use ERP and related systems to enter, track, and manage purchasing and inventory data accurately.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the procurement function.