Vendor Management Lead – Manufacturing Operations

Aston Carter; Washington; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston Carter is seeking a Vendor Management Specialist Lead in South Seattle, WA for a 6‑month temp-to-hire role. You will oversee a team of vendor specialists, manage a high-volume shared inbox, and support 25–50 vendors to ensure accurate and timely orders.

You will be the liaison between vendors, customers, and production, providing updates, coordinating order requirements, and maintaining smooth operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate clearly via email and phone.
• Experience in vendor management, including supporting multiple vendors simultaneously.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment, with comfort working closely with production teams.
• Ability to manage a high-volume email inbox and prioritize responses effectively.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including managing and training team members.
• Familiarity with MRP systems for reviewing and aligning order due dates with production requirements.
• Attention to detail when verifying customer purchase orders against internal work orders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and train a team of three vendor specialists.
• Manage a shared email inbox daily, responding to vendor and customer inquiries in a timely manner.
• Support 25–50 vendors by serving as their primary contact for order status and requirements.
• Review the MRP system to confirm order due dates align with delivery dates and production capabilities.
• Verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders for compliance and accurate flow-down of information.
• Provide updates to customers on order status within a four-hour response window.
• Coordinate with customers to obtain blueprints and documentation needed for processing.
• Coordinate with production to obtain estimated completion dates (ECDs) and relay to customers and vendors.
• Prepare orders for shipment or transfer with complete documentation.
• Develop and maintain daily order status reports for production and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with manufacturing and floor personnel to address issues and support on-time delivery.
• Uphold high standards of customer service in all interactions.

Skills

Customer service

Vendor management

Team leadership

Email management

Communication

Production coordination

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

MRP systems

Job description

Aston Carter is seeking a Vendor Management Specialist Lead in South Seattle, WA for a 6‑month temp-to-hire role. You will oversee a team of vendor specialists, manage a high-volume shared inbox, and support 25–50 vendors to ensure accurate and timely orders.

You will be the liaison between vendors, customers, and production, providing updates, coordinating order requirements, and maintaining smooth operations in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.