Buyer

OpenAI•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re seeking a Buyer to support vendor execution and purchase order delivery for finished goods. In this role, you will manage day-to-day vendor interactions, drive purchase orders through procurement and finance processes, and support delivery tracking through handoff to logistics partners. You will work closely with engineering, operations, procurement, and finance teams to ensure purchasing decisions are executed accurately and on time, escalating risks and issues as needed. This role sits at the execution layer of procurement. Sourcing strategy, supplier selection, and technical specifications are defined by internal stakeholders. This role ensures those decisions are translated into clean purchase orders, reliable vendor execution, and predictable delivery. This role is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and requires in-person work five days per week.

Requirements

Have experience executing purchase orders and coordinating with external vendors.
Understand incoterms and how they affect delivery responsibilities, risk transfer, and timing.
Are comfortable navigating procurement, legal, and finance approval workflows.
Can manage multiple open orders and vendor commitments with strong attention to detail.
Communicate clearly across engineering, operations, procurement, and finance teams.
Follow established processes while escalating risks and issues with good judgment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in hardware, manufacturing, robotics, or technical operations environments.
Exposure to international suppliers, cross-border shipments, or complex delivery environments.
Experience working in ERP or procurement systems.

Responsibilities

Support and manage relationships with assigned vendors supplying finished goods.
Request, validate, and confirm vendor quotes based on defined commercial and technical requirements.
Ensure incoterms, delivery responsibilities, and handoff points are clearly documented and aligned with vendors.
Track vendor commitments, promise dates, and delivery status.
Create purchase orders and drive them through procurement, legal, and finance approval workflows.
Ensure purchase orders reflect accurate commercial and delivery terms, including pricing, quantities, ship-to locations, incoterms, promise dates, and payment terms.
Release purchase orders to vendors and confirm acknowledgements and delivery schedules.
Process purchase order changes related to quantity, timing, scope, or delivery terms as requirements evolve.
Monitor delivery timelines, flag risks or delays, and engage vendors to clarify changes or issues.
Escalate delivery, timing, or execution risks as needed and support issue resolution.
Partner with engineering, operations, and planning teams to align demand and timing.
Hand off approved purchase orders and vendor details to logistics coordinators for shipment execution.
Maintain clear communication with stakeholders on status, risks, and changes.
Ensure procurement and finance systems reflect accurate, up-to-date purchasing data.