Buying Specialist

Aleron; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Acara Solutions is seeking a Buying Specialist in Palo Alto, CA for a 6-month contract. You will manage PO lifecycle, drive inventory optimization, and collaborate with internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure material availability and on-time delivery.

The role requires strong procurement experience, SAP Purchasing, Power BI proficiency, and experience with vendor relationships and SQEs. You will support continuous improvement and standardization across purchasing activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 4+ years of experience in SAP Purchasing Module.
• 4+ years of experience in Power BI.
• 4+ years of experience in Vendor/supplier relationships management.
• 4+ years of experience in SQEs, quality and engineer teams.
• 4+ years of experience in Buyer SAP.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchase requisitions (PRs) and purchase orders (POs), ensuring accuracy, appropriate approvals, and compliance with established processes.
• Oversee the full PO lifecycle, including material availability, order tracking, pricing, shipping, returns (RMA), and on-time delivery.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives, including reducing excess and obsolete inventory and coordinating part revision and rework activities.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, supplier agreements, documentation, and record-keeping requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and procurement standardization initiatives, while supporting day-to-day purchasing activities and maintaining clear communication with stakeholders.

Skills

Vendor relationships

Quality engineering coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

SAP Purchasing Module

Power BI

Job description

Job Title: Buying Specialist

Location: Palo Alto, CA

Employment: Contract (6 months)

Industry: Manufacturing

Compensation: $32.35-$35.5/hr

Schedule: 40 hours /week

About the Opportunity:

• We're looking for a detail-oriented Procurement professional to support purchasing operations and ensure materials are available when needed.
• In this role, you'll manage purchase orders from creation through delivery, work closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers, and help drive inventory optimization and process improvements.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

• This role offers the chance to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while giving you room to grow and develop professionally.

About Acara Solutions

• Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

What You'll Do:

• Manage purchase requisitions (PRs) and purchase orders (POs), ensuring accuracy, appropriate approvals, and compliance with established processes.
• Oversee the full PO lifecycle, including material availability, order tracking, pricing, shipping, returns (RMA), and on-time delivery.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives, including reducing excess and obsolete inventory and coordinating part revision and rework activities.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, supplier agreements, documentation, and record-keeping requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and procurement standardization initiatives, while supporting day-to-day purchasing activities and maintaining clear communication with stakeholders.

Job Requirements

What You'll Bring:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 4+ years of experience in SAP Purchasing Module
• 4+ years of experience in shared drives and Power BI
• 4+ years of experience in Vendor/supplier relationships management
• 4+ years of experience in SQEs, quality and engineer teams
• 4+ years of experience in Buyer SAP

What Sets You Apart:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, etc.)
• Strong understanding of the Purchase Order (PO) process and part lifecycle
• Professional written and verbal communication skills

Additional Information:

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Eligibility:

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.