Purchasing Associate

Talentify; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Purchasing Associate for a contract-to-hire, on-site role in Riverside, CA. You will manage direct and indirect purchasing, negotiate with suppliers, and oversee RFQ processes and purchase orders in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years in purchasing or expediting, strong Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, formulas), and experience with ERP systems such as Epicor.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of purchasing or expeditor experience in manufacturing.
• Experience with direct and indirect purchasing.
• Strong negotiation and cost optimization skills.
• Analytical thinking and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Procure materials ensuring optimal cost, quality, and delivery.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance for best value.
• Oversee RFQ process, awards, PO creation, and goods receipt management.
• Analyze pricing to meet cost objectives and budgets.
• Ensure delivery schedules are met and address performance issues promptly.
• Maintain corporate records and ensure compliance with NDAs, export controls, and contracts.
• Support ERP/MRP data analysis to provide actionable insights.
• Work with OEM/auto/aerospace suppliers and transition to direct purchasing as needed.
• Leverage Excel and ERP tools to monitor supplier performance.

Skills

Purchasing

Negotiation

Supply chain management

Data analysis

Vendor management

Tools

Epicor ERP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About this job

Job Title: Purchasing Associate

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled professional with experience in supply chain, direct purchasing, and/or indirect purchasing within a manufacturing environment, preferably in automotive (OEM or sub-tier supplier) or aftermarket-related operations. The ideal candidate will excel in supply chain management, purchasing, negotiation, and have experience with components procurement, logistics, warehouse operations, procurement activities, and data management. This role involves working with OEM supply chains, cost optimization, supplier management, and inventory control. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills are essential for success in this position.

Responsibilities

• Procure materials ensuring optimal cost, quality, and delivery.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance to achieve best value and schedule alignment.
• Oversee the RFQ process, procurement awards, purchase order creation, and goods receipt management.
• Analyze pricing to meet cost objectives and/or budgets.
• Ensure suppliers meet delivery schedules and promptly address performance issues to avoid delays.
• Maintain corporate records and ensure compliance with Non-Disclosure Agreements, Export Compliance, and Contracts.
• Ensure suppliers/contractors meet project timelines.
• Leverage advanced Excel tools and ERP/MRP systems to analyze procurement data and provide actionable insights.
• 2+ years of experience in a purchasing or expeditor role.
• Experience in automotive or aerospace industry.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, vlookup, and formulas.
• Experience with ERP systems, ideally Epicor, with openness to other systems.
• Understanding of supply chain operations, contracts, and supplier performance metrics.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with purchase orders and RFQ processing.
• Mix of direct and indirect purchasing experience.
• Bilingual in Mandarin is a plus but not mandatory.
• Experience in ERP implementation is advantageous.
• Adaptability to change and a growth mindset.

Job Type & Location

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

This position is contract to hire and 100% onsite from Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m.- 2:30 pm, with opportunities for overtime. The role is within a large transit-bus manufacturer, requiring walking the production floor frequently, necessitating protective shoes. You will collaborate cross-functionally with multiple departments including purchasing, operations, engineering, and production. Initially starting with indirect purchasing, there is potential to transition to direct purchasing of raw materials. The team is extremely busy, and the procurement manager works long hours, so the ability to pick up tasks quickly and adapt to evolving business processes is crucial. The environment is dynamic due to ongoing ERP implementation and increased workload from recently awarded projects.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $33.50/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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 &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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Riverside,CA.

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 agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Each posting applies separately and lists its own pay.