Vendor Management Specialist Lead

Aston Carter•Seattle, WA

7d•$32 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

The Vendor Management Specialist Lead oversees a team of vendor specialists and manages daily vendor communications for a mid-size manufacturing operation in South Seattle, WA. This role focuses on supporting 25–50 vendors, managing a shared email inbox, and ensuring customer orders align with internal manufacturing processes and schedules. The position starts as a 6‑month temporary assignment with the potential to convert to a permanent role, working a regular 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. shift. The Lead plays a key role in coordinating between customers, vendors, and production to ensure accurate order processing, timely updates, and strong customer service.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in customer service, preferably in a call center, manufacturing, or vendor-facing environment.
Experience in vendor management, including supporting multiple vendors and handling vendor-related issues.
Strong email management skills, including managing a shared inbox and prioritizing high-volume communications.
Ability to interpret and verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders and process requirements.
Comfort working in an aerospace or manufacturing environment and interacting with production teams.
Customer service–oriented mindset with strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to develop and maintain daily reports on orders and communicate effectively with production.
High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) is required.
Ability to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen and background check, as required for the role.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a manufacturing or aerospace environment is highly beneficial.
Experience leading, mentoring, or training team members in a customer service or vendor management setting.
Familiarity with MRP systems and production scheduling processes.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple vendors and competing priorities.
Comfort communicating with managers and staff on the production floor to resolve order-related issues.
Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
Interest in growing with a company that is expanding its facilities and operations.

Responsibilities

Lead and supervise a team of three vendor specialists, providing day-to-day guidance, coaching, and training.
Manage a shared email inbox daily, ensuring timely and professional responses to vendor and customer inquiries.
Support 25–50 vendors by serving as a primary point of contact and maintaining strong, service-oriented relationships.
Review the MRP system to ensure customer order due dates align with required delivery dates and internal production schedules.
Verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders to confirm that all process requirements are met and correctly flowed down.
Provide continuous updates to customers on the status of their orders within the required four-hour response time.
Communicate with customers to obtain any additional blueprints, drawings, or documentation needed for order processing.
Coordinate closely with production teams to obtain estimated completion dates (ECDs) for orders and relay this information to customers and vendors.
Prepare orders in ship-out or other designated areas as needed to support on-time delivery.
Develop and maintain daily reports on order status and communicate key information to production and other stakeholders.
Collaborate with manufacturing and management personnel on the production floor to resolve issues and ensure smooth order flow.
Maintain a high level of customer service and professionalism in all interactions with internal and external partners.