Procurement Specialist

CORE Group; Newport News (VA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

CORE Group seeks a skilled Procurement Specialist to support manufacturing programs with timely sourcing, purchasing, and delivery of materials in a lean environment. The role involves sourcing catalog/COTS parts and custom components, reading basic drawings, and maintaining documentation per ISO standards.

Ideal candidates have 5–10 years in manufacturing procurement, proficiency with QuickBooks, and comfort operating without ERP systems using Excel-based BOMs. On-site in Newport News, VA.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of procurement experience in manufacturing, industrial, marine, defense, or construction.
• Experience buying catalog/COTS components and custom parts.
• Proficiency with QuickBooks as primary purchasing system.
• Ability to work without ERP and manage from Excel-based BOMs.
• Strong communication and follow‑up skills.

Responsibilities

• Obtain competitive quotations from suppliers and identify alternatives.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders in QuickBooks.
• Source catalog/COTS and custom parts, reading basic drawings.
• Follow up on open POs and address delays.
• Develop recovery plans with the Supply Chain Specialist.
• Reconcile POs in QuickBooks against the Excel BOM.
• Coordinate inbound receipts and PO closeout.
• Communicate schedule changes and handling of shortages.
• Maintain supplier docs per ISO standards.
• Support process improvements and weekly meetings.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Self-directed

Lean supply chain experience

Reading drawings

Excel

QuickBooks

Tools

QuickBooks

Excel

Job description

Procurement Specialist

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Procurement Specialist to join our team and support manufacturing programs through efficient procurement execution. This role is vital in ensuring timely sourcing, purchasing, and delivery of materials in a lean, manual supply chain environment. The ideal candidate will bring hands‑on experience in industrial or manufacturing procurement, with the ability to operate independently and maintain rigorous documentation standards. If you are proactive, disciplined, and ready to contribute immediately, we encourage you to apply and become a key player in our dynamic team.

Responsibilities

• Obtain competitive quotations from established and new suppliers, identifying alternative sources when necessary.
• Prepare and issue purchase orders in QuickBooks, confirming order acknowledgments and delivery commitments.
• Source both catalog/COTS components and custom fabricated parts, including reading basic mechanical drawings for communication with fabrication suppliers.
• Maintain active follow‑up on open purchase orders, including supplier confirmation, mid‑lead‑time check‑ins, and proactive communication of potential delays.
• Identify early signs of delivery risks and develop recovery plans in collaboration with the Supply Chain Specialist.
• Reconcile open purchase orders in QuickBooks against the Excel BOM, ensuring alignment on quantities, part numbers, and revisions.
• Coordinate inbound shipment receipts, resolve discrepancies, and ensure proper PO closeout.
• Communicate with suppliers regarding delivery schedule changes, shortages, damages, and returns, escalating issues as needed.
• Maintain accurate purchase order records and supplier documentation in compliance with ISO standards.
• Support procurement process improvements and participate in weekly coordination meetings.

Requirements

• 5–10 years of procurement experience in manufacturing, industrial, marine, defense, or construction environments.
• Proven ability to buy both catalog/COTS components and custom fabricated parts, with comfort reading mechanical drawings.
• Prior experience with QuickBooks is highly preferred, as it is the primary purchasing system.
• Ability to work effectively in a lean, manual supply chain environment without ERP support, managing procurement from Excel-based BOMs.
• Strong organizational skills and disciplined follow‑through to manage high volumes of purchase orders across multiple projects.
• Familiarity with electrical, electronic, or mechanical components and industrial supplier networks is advantageous.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to follow up professionally and assertively with suppliers.
• Self‑directed, proactive, and capable of working in a small‑team environment with limited support.
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to DoD contract work.
• On‑site presence in Newport News, VA, with flexibility to visit multiple locations as needed.