Buyer

Aston Carter; California; On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking an Associate Buyer in Los Angeles, CA to purchase and plan materials for manufacturing operations, ensuring materials are available when needed while maintaining optimal inventory levels. You will manage purchase orders, monitor supplier performance, and collaborate with production and planning teams, using SAP or similar ERP/MRP tools to keep data accurate and processes efficient.

This contract-to-hire role offers regular hours Mon-Fri, with a focus on preventing

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2+ years experience as a manufacturing buyer or planner.
• Experience purchasing and material planning in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ERP/MRP system experience, preferably SAP.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing purchasing and material planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage suppliers and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Proficiency in purchase order management from creation through completion.
• Experience supporting production schedules through effective procurement and planning.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Responsiveness and reliability in addressing material and supplier-related issues.
• Ability to prevent material shortages while maintaining optimal inventory levels.

Responsibilities

• Purchase and plan materials to support ongoing manufacturing operations.
• Ensure materials are available on time to meet production schedules and prevent material shortages.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing supply, demand, and storage capacity.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders accurately and in a timely manner.
• Monitor and manage supplier performance to support consistent quality and on-time delivery.
• Use ERP/MRP systems, preferably SAP, to plan materials, track orders, and maintain accurate data.
• Coordinate with production, planning, and supply chain teams to align material availability with manufacturing needs.
• Analyze material requirements and inventory levels to identify potential gaps and take proactive action.
• Resolve issues related to material availability, delivery delays, or order discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate records of purchasing activities, supplier information, and inventory status.
• Continuously improve purchasing and planning processes to support efficient manufacturing operations.

Skills

Purchasing

Material planning

ERP/MRP

Supplier relations

Purchase orders

Production scheduling support

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Associate Buyer

Job Description

The Associate Buyer is responsible for purchasing and planning materials to support manufacturing operations, ensuring materials are available when needed while maintaining optimal inventory levels and building strong supplier relationships.

Responsibilities

• Purchase and plan materials required to support ongoing manufacturing operations.
• Ensure materials are available on time to meet production schedules and prevent material shortages.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels by balancing supply, demand, and storage capacity.
• Create, issue, and manage purchase orders accurately and in a timely manner.
• Monitor and manage supplier performance to support consistent quality and on-time delivery.
• Use ERP/MRP systems, preferably SAP, to plan materials, track orders, and maintain accurate data.
• Coordinate with production, planning, and supply chain teams to align material availability with manufacturing needs.
• Analyze material requirements and inventory levels to identify potential gaps and take proactive action.
• Resolve issues related to material availability, delivery delays, or order discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate records of purchasing activities, supplier information, and inventory status.
• Continuously improve purchasing and planning processes to support efficient manufacturing operations.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2+ years of experience as a manufacturing buyer or planner.
• Proven experience in purchasing and material planning in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ERP/MRP system experience, preferably with SAP.
• Hands-on experience with manufacturing purchasing and material planning.
• Demonstrated ability to manage suppliers and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Proficiency in purchase order management from creation through completion.
• Experience supporting production schedules through effective procurement and planning.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Responsiveness and reliability in addressing material and supplier-related issues.
• Ability to prevent material shortages while maintaining optimal inventory levels.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a supply chain, procurement, or purchasing function within manufacturing.
• Familiarity with end-to-end supply chain processes and best practices.
• Comfort working with ERP/MRP tools and adapting to new systems and workflows.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Attention to detail in managing purchase orders, inventory records, and system data.

Work Environment

This role is fully onsite, working Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in a manufacturing-focused environment. The position supports production operations and requires regular interaction with supply chain, planning, and manufacturing teams while working within ERP/MRP systems such as SAP.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $33.00/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 Los Angeles,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 17, 2026.

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 agilit