Buyer

Skill; North Reading (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan with match

Paid sick leave

Training & development

Job summary

Aquent Talent is seeking an experienced procurement professional to support strategic supplier relationships and material planning for global programs. This role emphasizes owning supplier portfolios, ensuring timely purchases, and mitigating risks in a fast-paced environment.

You will collaborate with Planning, Commodity Management, and Supply Chain leadership, driving data-driven decisions with ERP and analytics tools, and contributing to continuous improvement efforts across teams.

Qualifications

• 2+ years as a direct procurement professional owning supplier relationships and portfolios.
• Experience purchasing production materials/components (electronics, PCBAs, electromechanical assemblies).
• Proficient with ERP systems for PO execution, rescheduling, and demand tracking.
• Intermediate/advanced Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP).
• Experience with SQL and data-visualization tools (Tableau/QuickSight).
• Excellent written and verbal communication; capable of cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Purchase essential materials and equipment from suppliers (electromechanical assemblies, PCBAs, hardware).
• Manage supplier relationships and monitor performance KPIs for leadership reports.
• Provide procurement data for monthly scorecards and quarterly reviews.
• Plan material requirements, manage inventory, and maintain delivery schedules in ERP.
• Communicate forecasts and material needs to suppliers for alignment.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks; report material flow transparently.
• Collaborate with Planning and Supply Chain leadership to mitigate risks.
• Maintain open POs, expedites, and changing material requirements.

Skills

Procurement ownership

ERP systems

Excel PivotTables

SQL/Data visualization

Strong communication

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or related

APICS or Six Sigma certification

Tools

ERP systems

Tableau

Amazon QuickSight

Job description

United States, Massachusetts, North Reading

Sep 11, 2026

Overview

Placement Type: Temporary

Salary: $32.66-36.29 Hourly

W2 + Benefits Offered

Start Date: Oct 12, 2026

Aquent is partnering with a globally recognized leader in innovation to find an experienced procurement professional. This is an exceptional opportunity to support the flow of critical materials, strengthen supplier performance, and contribute to products and programs with a global impact, playing a pivotal role in bringing groundbreaking innovations to life.

About the Company

Join a world-renowned innovator at the forefront of technology and product development. This company is celebrated for its commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering products that redefine industries. As a partner in their mission, you'll contribute to a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, working on initiatives that shape the future.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly organized and proactive procurement professional with direct experience to support critical supply chain operations. In this dynamic role, you won't just process transactions; you will own supplier relationships and component portfolios, proactively execute and maintain purchase orders, meticulously monitor material availability, and strategically mitigate risks that could impact production or program schedules. This is a hands-on opportunity where your sound judgment, strong analytical skills, and effective communication will directly influence the success of global products and initiatives. You'll be a key player, collaborating across suppliers, Planning, Commodity Management, and Supply Chain leadership to ensure seamless operations and drive impactful results.

Key Responsibilities

• Purchase essential materials and equipment from suppliers, including electromechanical assemblies, electronic components, printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), hardware, and non-inventory items.
• Manage critical supplier relationships and monitor key performance indicators, providing vital reports to senior Supply Chain leadership.
• Provide crucial procurement data and insights to inform monthly scorecards and quarterly business reviews.
• Strategically plan material requirements, manage inventory levels, and maintain accurate supply and delivery schedules within the ERP system.
• Clearly communicate forecasts, delivery requirements, schedule changes, and material needs to suppliers, ensuring alignment and responsiveness.
• Proactively identify supply chain and material-availability risks, maintaining transparent reporting on material flow to inform decision-making.
• Partner closely with the Planning team to communicate identified risks and develop effective mitigation strategies for internal stakeholders.
• Continuously monitor and update open purchase orders, expedites, delivery commitments, and changing material requirements to maintain operational fluidity.
• Support the Global Commodity Management team in fostering strong supplier relationships, monitoring performance, addressing supply constraints, and facilitating new product or program development.
• Resolve purchase-order receiving errors efficiently and assist with invoice reconciliation to ensure financial accuracy.
• Manage supplier returns, including Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), Return Material Authorizations (RMAs), and Material Review Board (MRB) materials.
• Identify and champion process-improvement opportunities, leading cross-functional teams through successful implementation to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience as a direct procurement professional, demonstrating ownership of supplier relationships, programs, and sizeable component portfolios beyond transactional or purchasing-coordinator responsibilities.
• Proven experience purchasing production materials or components, ideally including electronics, PCBAs, electromechanical assemblies, or hardware.
• Proficiency with ERP systems for purchase-order execution, rescheduling, and supply-and-demand tracking.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including creating and manipulating PivotTables and performing data lookups.
• Experience with SQL querying and/or data-visualization tools such as Amazon QuickSight or Tableau.
• Strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to work collaboratively across functions.
• A self-motivated approach and the ability to operate independently in a demanding yet collegial environment.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Humanities, or another relevant field.
• APICS or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience independently leading supplier reviews, business reviews, or performance-management calls.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, hardware, electronics, automotive, aerospace, robotics, or another complex production environment.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.