Buyer (Temp)

GKN•Garden Grove, CA

About The Position

The Buyer - Expeditor is responsible for ensuring timely delivery of materials, components, and open purchase orders to support manufacturing and operational needs. This role proactively communicates with suppliers, expedites late or at‑risk orders, hosts weekly supplier calls, and maintains accurate status updates in the ERP/MRP system. Success in this position requires strong communication, follow‑through, and the ability to drive suppliers toward meeting delivery commitments.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
1 - 3 years of experience in purchasing, expediting, supply chain, or related administrative/coordination roles.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Excel, Word).
Experience with ERP/MRP systems (any platform).
Must be a U.S. Person per ITAR regulations to comply with export compliance requirements, with ability to obtain a Department of Defense security clearance if needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience in manufacturing, aerospace, or similar supply chain driven environments.
Familiarity with basic purchasing processes and terminology.
Ability to build positive relationships with internal teams and suppliers.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary point of contact for order status, delivery updates, and issue resolution with assigned suppliers.
Proactively expedite open orders to ensure materials arrive on time to support production schedules.
Conduct weekly supplier meetings to review open orders, recovery plans, and delivery risks.
Follow up daily on past‑due or critical orders and escalate risks as needed.
Maintain clear, professional, and frequent communication with suppliers.
Review MRP demand, place purchase orders, and confirm supplier acknowledgments.
Update ERP/MRP with current delivery dates and notes from supplier interactions.
Monitor supplier performance and highlight recurring issues to the procurement team.
Ensure purchase order terms, quantities, and delivery dates are accurate and aligned with requirements.
Collaborate with Production, Planning, Quality, and Receiving to address order delays, shortages, and discrepancies.
Assist with resolving invoice, shipment, and documentation issues.
Support internal teams with timely status updates on key materials and components.
Identify recurring supplier issues and assist in developing basic improvement plans.
Recommend changes to processes that improve communication flow, order visibility, or delivery performance.