Buyer / Procurement Support

Role 2: Buyer / Procurement / Supplier Coordination Support

This role supports purchasing, supplier management, RFQs, delivery tracking, and vendor communication. The person would help us keep materials, tooling, outside services, and supplier commitments on track.

Typical responsibilities may include:

• Calling suppliers to check order status, lead times, pricing, and delivery updates.
• Helping identify, research, and vet new suppliers for materials, tooling, finishing, heat treating, coating, inspection, and other services.
• Preparing purchase requests and assisting with purchase order setup.
• Reviewing supplier quotes for accuracy, lead time, freight, terms, and technical fit.
• Managing supplier follow-up for RFQs, open POs, RMAs, late deliveries, and corrective actions.
• Communicating clear expectations to suppliers regarding deadlines, certifications, documentation, packaging, and project urgency.
• Maintaining supplier records, quote logs, purchasing trackers, and delivery schedules.

This role could be a good fit for someone with interest or experience in:

• Procurement
• Supply chain
• Customer service
• Project coordination
• Data analytics
• Business administration
• Technical sales support
• Logistics
• Marketing research
• Vendor management

Skills and Traits We Need

Both roles require someone who can work in a demanding, detail-sensitive environment. The person must be comfortable working with data, spreadsheets, documents, vendors, and shifting project priorities.

Important traits include:

• Strong reliability and punctuality.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to follow written instructions and check their own work.
• Strong Excel skills or willingness to become strong in Excel.
• Comfort working with spreadsheets that may have many columns, linked data, formulas, and project tracking details.
• Good phone and email communication skills (This is critical as I run into many individuals that say I don’t make phone calls – this would not be a fit for them).
• Ability to ask questions early instead of guessing.
• Willingness to learn technical manufacturing terminology.
• Ability to work with urgency while maintaining accuracy.
• Professionalism when communicating with customers, suppliers, and internal team members.
• Interest in building a real career, not just filling a temporary job.

Work Environment

This is not a slow, repetitive office job. We are a small, growing manufacturing company where people may wear multiple hats and learn many parts of the business. A good candidate may help with project records in the morning, supplier follow-up in the afternoon, and shipping or ERP updates later in the day.

The environment is fast-paced, practical, and hands-on. Details matter because our projects often involve technical requirements, customer specifications, government paperwork, delivery commitments, and supplier coordination.