Buyer

Aston Carter•Columbia, MD

2d•$30 - $45•Onsite

About The Position

The Buyer is responsible for negotiating and placing purchase orders for assigned commodities and services, carefully balancing price, delivery, reliability, and contractual terms. This role evaluates new and existing suppliers, administers purchasing agreements and contracts, and ensures that procurement activities align with delivery requirements and budget targets. The Buyer maintains strong internal and external relationships, communicates effectively with stakeholders, and uses ERP systems and Excel to manage data and purchasing processes.

Requirements

Minimum of 2+ years of buyer or purchasing experience.
Experience in purchasing, procurement, and purchase order management.
Hands‑on experience with ERP systems for procurement and supply chain processes.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data entry, analysis, and reporting.
Demonstrated negotiation skills, including experience negotiating pricing, terms, and contractual conditions.
Strong buying experience with the ability to handle high‑value commodities and complex price justification.
Ability to locate and qualify sources of supply and evaluate supplier performance.
Experience communicating technical information to internal and external stakeholders.
Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write professional business correspondence.
Ability to work with and interpret data from multiple sources to support purchasing decisions.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a manufacturing environment is a plus.
Experience in supply chain, purchasing, or procurement disciplines.
Familiarity with formal requests for quote (RFQ) processes and written proposal evaluations.
Experience administering contracts, including monitoring supplier performance and managing changes.
Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, field, and manufacturing teams.
Strong interpersonal skills for building and maintaining constructive and cooperative working relationships.
Attention to detail in reviewing quotations, contracts, and supplier documentation.
Ability to encourage suppliers to share innovative ideas and products that enhance product quality or profitability.

Responsibilities

Negotiate and place purchase orders for assigned commodities, considering price, delivery, reliability, conditions of acceptance, and other related terms and conditions.
Procure assigned commodities and services in accordance with established delivery requirements and within fund or target allocations.
Evaluate new and current suppliers by securing information on quality levels and delivery performance and assist in reviewing current suppliers to determine potential sources of supply.
Handle high‑value commodities that require formal requests for quotes, written proposals, and complex negotiations with detailed price justification.
Prepare invitations to bid and analyze quotations for quality, delivery, and price to ensure conformance with current market prices and historical pricing for specified commodities.
Negotiate standard purchasing agreements and subsequent amendments with successful bidders, clearly defining statements of work, delivery dates, prices, reporting requirements, financial terms, and other contractual conditions.
Administer negotiated contracts on a continuing basis, monitoring changes, issues, and progress to identify and address actual or potential performance failures.
Maintain ongoing supplier communication to ensure that delivery and commitment objectives are met.
Coordinate supplier‑related issues with engineering, field, manufacturing, and other company departments to support effective problem resolution.
Act as a technical liaison in specialized areas between suppliers and internal engineering, field, and manufacturing teams to assist in evaluating new suppliers.
Develop and utilize techniques that encourage suppliers to present ideas and products that can improve products and overall profit position.
Gather and analyze information from all relevant sources to support purchasing decisions, including locating sources of supply and obtaining information from individuals.
Use computers, ERP systems, and Excel to enter, access, retrieve, and process purchasing and supplier data.
Establish and maintain constructive and cooperative working relationships with supervisors, peers, subordinates, and cross‑functional teams.
Communicate regularly with supervisors, peers, and subordinates by telephone, email, in writing, and in person to provide updates and information on purchasing activities.
Communicate with external parties, including customers, public entities, government representatives, and other outside organizations, representing the organization in a professional manner.
Communicate technical information clearly and accurately to internal and external stakeholders.
Write clear, professional business correspondence related to purchasing, supplier management, and contract administration.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the broader procurement and supply chain function.