Purchasing Associate

Aston Carter•Riverside, CA

4d•$28 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

Aston Carter is recruiting a Purchasing Associate for a large transit-bus manufacturer in Riverside, California. The role focuses on procurement and supply-chain activities in a manufacturing environment, initially emphasizing indirect purchasing, with the potential to transition to direct purchasing of raw materials. The successful candidate will support sourcing, supplier management, cost optimization, inventory control, and procurement data analysis, working with OEM supply chains and cross-functional teams including purchasing, operations, engineering, and production. This is a contract-to-hire position that is 100% onsite, Monday through Friday, from 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with opportunities for overtime. The role involves frequently walking the production floor and requires protective shoes. The environment is fast-paced, with a busy procurement team, evolving business processes, an ongoing ERP implementation, and increased workload from recently awarded projects. Adaptability and the ability to take on 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 demonstrate a growth mindset.
Ability to pick up tasks quickly and adapt to evolving business processes.

Nice To Haves

Experience in automotive OEM or sub-tier supplier, aftermarket, or manufacturing operations.
A mix of direct and indirect purchasing experience.
Bilingual Mandarin skills.
Experience with ERP implementation.

Responsibilities

Procure materials while optimizing cost, quality, and delivery.
Negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance to achieve best value and align schedules.
Oversee RFQ processes, procurement awards, purchase order creation, and goods receipt management.
Analyze pricing to meet cost objectives and budgets.
Monitor supplier delivery schedules and address performance issues promptly to prevent delays.
Maintain corporate records and ensure compliance with Non-Disclosure Agreements, export compliance requirements, 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.