Purchasing Specialist

Job Summary

We are seeking a Purchasing Specialist for a direct hire opportunity with a growing manufacturing organization in Fremont, CA. This role is ideal for an experienced procurement professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced production environment, building supplier partnerships, supporting inventory planning, and helping ensure materials are available to meet production and customer commitments.

The Purchasing Specialist will play a key role in sourcing materials, managing supplier performance, negotiating pricing, supporting ERP/MRP data accuracy, and collaborating with cross-functional teams across Engineering, Production, Quality, and Sales. This is a strong opportunity to join a stable and growth-focused manufacturing team where collaboration, proactive problem-solving, and continuous improvement are valued.

Candidates who thrive in a hands-on manufacturing setting, enjoy balancing strategic sourcing with daily purchasing activity, and want to contribute to operational excellence will find this role highly rewarding.

Key Responsibilities

- Source and procure materials, components, and services to support production schedules, inventory needs, and customer delivery commitments.
- Issue RFQs and RFPs, evaluate supplier proposals, negotiate pricing and contracts, and select vendors based on cost, quality, and delivery performance.
- Manage supplier relationships, monitor vendor performance, expedite or reschedule deliveries, and resolve supply chain or supplier quality issues.
- Review purchase requisitions, generate purchase orders, process RMAs, and maintain accurate purchasing and ISO-related documentation.
- Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, and Sales teams on new product introductions, production support, inventory control, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Maintain product and material data within ERP/MRP systems and analyze purchasing trends to identify cost-saving opportunities.

Compensation and Benefits

- Salary range: $70,000 to $80,000 per year.
- Job type: Direct hire.
- Location: Fremont, CA.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

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For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Additional Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Manage purchasing, sourcing, supplier negotiations, and purchase order activity for a manufacturing production environment.
- Support inventory planning, material availability, supplier performance, and ERP/MRP data accuracy.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support production schedules, new product introductions, and customer requirements.
- Analyze purchasing activity and recommend improvements related to cost, delivery, inventory, and supplier performance.

- Associate degree or equivalent work experience required.
- Minimum 5 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience required.
- Experience with purchasing, sourcing, inventory management, supplier relationship management, and contract or price negotiations.
- Hands-on experience using ERP and MRP systems in a purchasing, planning, or supply chain capacity.
- Strong Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to prioritize multiple projects, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing production needs in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong attention to detail, proactive follow-up, and ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or ISO 16949 quality systems.
- Knowledge of wire, cable, electrical components, electronics, semiconductors, or related manufacturing industries.
- APICS certification.
- International purchasing experience.
- Experience with ITAR, Lean Manufacturing, REACH, and RoHS compliance.
- Knowledge of Avante ERP software.