Expeditor / Purchasing Associate

Aston Carter•Riverside, CA

5d•$28 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

Aston Carter is seeking a skilled Expeditor / Purchasing Associate for a large transit-bus manufacturer in Riverside, California. The position requires experience in supply chain, direct and/or indirect purchasing, preferably in automotive, aerospace, OEM, sub-tier supplier, or aftermarket-related operations. The role covers procurement, supplier management, negotiation, logistics, warehouse operations, inventory control, cost optimization, and procurement data analysis. This is a contract-to-hire role, fully onsite Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with opportunities for overtime. The role involves frequent walking on the production floor, so protective shoes are required. The associate will collaborate with purchasing, operations, engineering, and production teams. Work is initially focused on indirect purchasing, with potential to move into direct purchasing of raw materials. The environment is busy and dynamic, with evolving processes, an ERP implementation, and increased workload from newly awarded projects; adaptability and the ability to pick up tasks quickly are important.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience in a purchasing or expeditor role.
Experience in the automotive or aerospace industry.
Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and formulas.
Experience with ERP systems; Epicor is preferred, and experience with other systems is acceptable.
Understanding of supply chain operations, contracts, and supplier performance metrics.
Experience with purchase orders and RFQ processing.
Pricing negotiation skills.
Ability to adapt to change and a growth mindset.
Ability to frequently walk the production floor and wear protective shoes.

Nice To Haves

A mix of direct and indirect purchasing experience.
Bilingual Mandarin skills.
Experience with ERP implementation.

Responsibilities

Procure materials while ensuring optimal cost, quality, and delivery.
Negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance to achieve best value and align schedules.
Oversee the RFQ process, procurement awards, purchase order creation, and goods receipt management.
Analyze pricing to meet cost objectives and budgets.
Ensure suppliers meet delivery schedules and promptly address performance issues to prevent delays.
Maintain corporate records and ensure compliance with Non-Disclosure Agreements, export compliance, and contracts.
Ensure suppliers and contractors meet project timelines.
Use advanced Excel tools and ERP/MRP systems to analyze procurement data and provide actionable insights.