Procurement Specialist

Sarmal Inc

San Diego (CA)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 85,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Employee perks program

Job summary

Sarmal, Inc. in San Diego is seeking a Procurement Specialist to own end-to-end purchasing in a fast-growing biotech environment.

You will be the single point of contact between our scientific and operations teams and the vendors who supply them — sourcing quotes, negotiating terms, placing orders, and making sure reagents, consumables, and equipment arrive on time and in good condition. Because we are an early-stage company, the role extends past the purchase order: you will also run receiving

Qualifications

3+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience, including at least 2 years in biotech/ pharma/ research environments.
Familiarity with laboratory consumables, reagents, and scientific supply distributors (Avantor/VWR, ThermoFisher, MilliporeSigma, Bio-Rad, IDT).
Ability to issue and track purchase orders and manage vendor relationships independently.
Strong negotiation skills with tact and relationship management.
Proficiency with Excel and comfort learning new systems (purchasing, inventory, ERP).
Excellent organization and attention to detail with multiple concurrent orders.
On-site work five days per week.

Responsibilities

Own the full requisition-to-order cycle for R&D, Lab Operations, Facilities, and G&A; obtain quotes; issue and track POs; process requisitions within one business day.
Source competitive pricing, run RFQs, negotiate pricing, lead times and terms.
Track open orders, expedite backorders, allocations and delays before they impact experiments.
Coordinate with Finance on PO-to-invoice matching and record-keeping; provide spend reporting.
Support capital equipment purchases, including quotes, service contracts, delivery and installation coordination.
Identify cost savings through consolidation, standing orders, and alternate sourcing.
Onboard new vendors (W‑9s, insurance certificates) and maintain vendor master data.
Monitor supplier performance and identify secondary options for critical materials.
Receive shipments, verify contents, inspect for damage, and log lot numbers/expiration dates.
Route temperature-sensitive items to correct storage; manage stockroom and cycle counts.
Maintain inventory levels and anticipate demand to avoid long lead times.

Skills

PO management

Negotiation

Advanced Excel

Vendor relations

Detail-oriented

Education

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Business / Supply Chain / Life Sciences

Tools

NetSuite

QuickBooks

Quartzy

Coupa

Job description

Company Overview

Sarmal, Inc. is a San Diego–based biotechnology company developing next-generation genomics and molecular detection platforms. Our work integrates molecular biology, chemistry, and advanced systems engineering to enable faster, more precise, and more accessible genomic insights.

We are a highly collaborative, R&D-driven teamoperatingin a fast-paced, early-stage environment. Our scientists and engineers work across disciplines to solve complex technical challenges and translate innovation into scalable, real-world applications.

AtSarmal, we value scientific rigor, curiosity, anda buildermindset. We are looking for individuals who are energized by ambiguity, motivated by impact, and excited to help bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

About the Job

We are seeking a Procurement Specialist to ownpurchasingend-to-end in a fast-paced, rapidly growing environment. You will be the single point of contact between our scientific and operations teams and the vendors who supply them — sourcing quotes, negotiating terms, placing orders, and making sure reagents, consumables, and equipment arrive on time and in good condition. Because we are an early-stage company, the role extends past the purchase order: you will also run receiving and inventory for thesite, andbuild the purchasing processesSarmalwill rely on as it scales.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Purchasing

Own the full requisition-to-order cycle: intake and verify requests from R&D, Lab Operations, Facilities, and G&A; obtain quotes; issue and track purchase orders; process approved requisitions within one business day.
Source competitive pricing across distributors and direct manufacturers; run RFQs and negotiate pricing, lead times, and terms.
Track open orders andexpeditebackorders, allocations, and delayed shipments before they become bench-level problems.
Partner with Finance on PO-to-invoice matching and resolution of match exceptions, quantity discrepancies, and billing errors;maintainpurchasing records and provide spend reporting to Operations and Finance.
Support capital equipment purchases, including quote comparison, service contract tracking, and coordination of delivery and installation.
Identifycost savings through consolidation, contract pricing, standing orders, and alternate sourcing.

Vendor & Supplier Management

Own the vendor master list — contacts, account numbers, pricing agreements, payment terms, and preferred-supplier designations — and onboard new vendors, including W-9s, insurance certificates, and routing of agreements for review and signature.
Serve asday-to-day point of contact for supplier representatives; coordinate vendor visits and product demonstrations.
Monitor supplier performance on quality, delivery, and responsiveness; expedite recurring issues andidentifysecond-source options for critical materials.

Receiving & Inventory

Receive all incoming shipments: verify contents against packing slips and purchase orders, inspect for damage, and record lot numbers andexpirationdates.
Route temperature-sensitive materialsimmediatelyon arrival — cold-chain reagents, dry ice shipments, andcontrolled-storageitems — to the correct storage location.
Maintain stockroom andconsumablesinventory; conduct cycle counts,monitorpar levels, and anticipate demand against upcoming study timelines so that long-lead items are ordered ahead of need.
Manage returns, RMAs, and disposition of damaged or non-conforming goods; keep the receiving and storage area clean, safe, and well organized.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

3+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience, including at least 2 years in a biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, or research laboratory environment.
Working familiarity with laboratory consumables, reagents, and scientific supply distributors (e.g., Avantor/VWR,ThermoFisher,MilliporeSigma, Bio-Rad, IDT).
Demonstrated ability to issue and track purchase orders and manage vendor relationships independently.
Sound negotiation skills and the ability to be persistent with suppliers whilemaintainingtact and preserving the relationship.
Strongproficiencywith Excel and comfort learning new purchasing, inventory, or ERP systems.
Excellent organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage many concurrent orders and competing priorities.
Ability to work on-site five days per week.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience at an early-stage or rapidly scaling company, where processes are built rather than inherited.
Familiarity with cold-chain handling, dry ice, and temperature-controlled storage requirements.
Hands-on experience with an ERP, inventory, or e-procurement platform (e.g., NetSuite, QuickBooks,Quartzy, Coupa).
Exposure to a regulated quality environment and supplier qualification practices.
Experience with capital equipment procurement, service contracts, orfacilitiesvendor coordination.

Benefits & Perks

Sarmal offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:

Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Company-paid life insurance
401(k) retirement plan
Generous paid time off
Access to additional voluntary benefits, employee perks, and discount programs
We are committed to supporting the well-being of our employees and providing a strong foundation for both professional and personal success.

Education

Associate orBachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Life Sciences, or a related field preferred. Relevant experience may be substituted for formal education.

Physical Requirements

This role involves regular lifting andmoving ofpackages and supplies up to 50lbs, use of hand trucks and pallet jacks, and frequent standing, bending, and reaching. Work includes handling dry ice and enteringcold-storageand laboratory areas while wearingappropriate personalprotective equipment.

$70,000 - $85,000 a year

California Pay Transparency Statement.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $70,000 – $85,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skill set, and internal equity considerations.

EEO Statement

Sarmal is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Sarmal is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and consider all qualified candidates in accordance with applicable laws.

Why Join Sarmal