Procurement SpecialistLocation: Long Beach Area
We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Procurement Specialist to manage purchasing, coordinate with vendors, and ensure materials arrive on time to support production and customer orders.
This role requires strong follow-through, sound judgment, and clear communication. The ideal candidate can manage daily purchasing details while evaluating alternatives, identifying potential problems, and recommending practical improvements.
Responsibilities
- Prepare, issue, and track purchase orders, ensuring accurate pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates.
- Manage vendor relationships, request and compare quotations, negotiate purchasing terms, and resolve order discrepancies.
- Monitor open orders and follow up proactively with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery. Identify delays early and coordinate solutions with internal teams.
- Work closely with production and sales to understand demand, plan purchases, and align material availability with production schedules and customer commitments.
- Review inventory and purchasing needs to help prevent shortages and unnecessary excess stock.
- Research alternative suppliers and parts, coordinating with engineering and quality on technical requirements and approvals.
- Prepare basic cost analyses in Excel to evaluate vendor or part changes, considering unit pricing, freight, minimum order quantities, tooling costs, and other relevant factors.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records, vendor information, and order status in company systems.
- Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes, reduce costs, and strengthen supplier performance.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree preferred, but not required.
- Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
- Strong reasoning and problem-solving abilities, including the ability to evaluate options and explain recommendations clearly.
- Strong writing and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate professionally with suppliers and internal teams.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, organizing and analyzing data, and preparing cost comparisons.
- Strong ability to learn new software, technology, and business systems.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, and take ownership of tasks through completion.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or manufacturing operations.
- Experience at a startup or a growing company where priorities change and employees take on a broad range of responsibilities.
- Familiarity with ERP, inventory management, or purchasing software.
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