Purchasing Agent

Job Title: BuyerJob Description

The buyer will be responsible for collaborating with both internal and external customers to identify materials and parts for purchase. Each day, the buyer will receive a list of items needed and make purchasing decisions based on sourcing and research activities with both new and existing suppliers. Responsibilities include generating and adjusting purchase orders and following up with suppliers on back-orders and missed timelines. The buyer will work closely with customer service (install), engineering, and the production team.

Responsibilities

• Review needs from internal customers and make buying decisions based on the supply base.

• Address concerns and issues with suppliers, involving management as necessary.

• Communicate future needs to suppliers to support their preparation.

• Track and report on supplier performance.

• Review engineering drawings and blueprints, and communicate with suppliers to minimize back-and-forth with engineering.

• Utilize Excel to clean up data from the system and create user-friendly reports for the team and management.

Essential Skills

• 3-7 years of buying and sourcing experience.

• Proficiency in negotiation with the ability to have tough conversations with suppliers.

• Ability to read engineering drawings and blueprints.

• Proficiency in Excel and Aptean ERP.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.

• Experience in metal fabrication.

• Experience with Aptean ERP.

Work Environment

Work hours are from 7:30 AM to 4 PM. Initial on-site training every day for the first month or so. Post-training, the schedule includes 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home. The buyer will be part of a team of 4 people and will support 22 people in customer service (install service), 6 people in engineering, and various managers on the production floor. The site has 120 employees, with a total of 250 employees in the company.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.86 - $45.67/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Rapids,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 10, 2025.

About Aston Carter:

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® double diamond winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email ( ) for other accommodation options.