Senior Buyer

Motive Workforce; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Motive Workforce in Long Beach, CA seeks a Senior Buyer / Purchasing & Procurement Manager to own the purchasing function end-to-end, hands-on with daily buying while guiding suppliers and cross-functional teams. This role demands strong negotiation, supplier management, and ERP/MRP proficiency in a regulated manufacturing setting.

Ideal candidates bring 5–10+ years in technical purchasing, experience with aerospace standards, and a track record of supplier performance improvement.

Qualifications

• 5 to 10+ years of experience in technical purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management.
• Experience independently managing purchasing and supplier relationships.
• Experience negotiating with vendors on pricing, lead times, and terms.
• Knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP, and aerospace quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own purchasing and procurement activities from requisition through delivery.
• Source materials, equipment, services, and outsourced manufacturing services.
• Create, issue, manage, and track supplier purchase orders.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, terms, and delivery with suppliers.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships focused on cost, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Coordinate purchasing priorities with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and finance.
• Support AS9100 and NADCAP audits and compliance requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts within purchasing and supply chain operations.

Skills

Supplier management

Negotiation

ERP/MRP

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical purchasing

Sourcing

KPI tracking

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Procurement software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Buyer / Purchasing & Procurement Manager for an advanced manufacturing operation in Long Beach, CA.

This position requires someone who can take ownership of the purchasing and procurement function from end to end. The right candidate will be hands-on with day-to-day purchasing while also managing suppliers, improving processes, tracking performance, and partnering with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and finance.

What You'll Do

• Own purchasing and procurement activities from requisition through delivery.
• Source materials, equipment, services, production supplies, and outsourced manufacturing services.
• Create, issue, manage, and track supplier purchase orders.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, terms, and delivery commitments with suppliers.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships focused on cost, quality, and on-time delivery.
• Manage the Approved Supplier List and support supplier qualification and onboarding.
• Track supplier performance, including quality, on-time delivery, and purchasing turnaround times.
• Resolve supplier nonconformance issues and support corrective action activities.
• Coordinate purchasing priorities with engineering, manufacturing, quality, program management, and finance.
• Maintain procurement records, supplier certifications, quality documentation, and product traceability records.
• Support AS9100 and NADCAP purchasing-related audits and compliance requirements.
• Identify purchasing risks and develop solutions before they impact production.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts within purchasing and supply chain operations.
• Support and develop purchasing processes as the organization continues to grow.
• 5 to 10+ years of experience in technical purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management.
• Strong experience independently managing purchasing and supplier relationships.
• Experience negotiating with vendors on pricing, lead times, and commercial terms.
• Knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP, and aerospace quality requirements.
• Experience with ERP/MRP and procurement systems.
• Strong understanding of supplier performance, KPIs, and continuous improvement.
• Experience working in aerospace, additive manufacturing, defense, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment preferred.
• Previous experience managing a supply chain team or leading purchasing operations preferred.
• Strong organizational and vendor management skills.
• U.S. Person status as defined by ITAR.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level government clearance.

This is a strong fit for a Senior Buyer ready for broader ownership or an experienced Purchasing/Procurement Manager who still wants to remain hands-on with the day-to-day operation.