Purchasing manager

Job Title: Senior Buyer/Purchasing Manager

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Job Description

The Senior Buyer/Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading day-to-day procurement operations, overseeing a small team, and collaborating closely with suppliers to source aerospace-grade materials and services. This role requires negotiating pricing and contracts, ensuring compliance with industry certifications, and aligning inventory with production needs. The position involves hands-on buying responsibilities and coordination with engineering, quality, and scheduling teams to ensure timely and specification-compliant material arrivals.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the procurement operations team.
• Negotiate pricing and contracts with suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with industry certifications.
• Align inventory with production needs.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, and scheduling teams.
• Utilize ERP/MRP systems for effective vendor management.
  
  

Essential Skills

• 3-5 years of purchasing management experience.
• Experience in purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in metals purchasing.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business.
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems.
  
  

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace purchasing.
• Familiarity with Infor Visual ERP.
• Strong interpersonal skills for managing others.
  
  

Work Environment

This role is based onsite, working in an office environment. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to train for 4-6 months with the current purchasing manager, who is nearing retirement. This is a key role for achieving successful operations of an important aerospace supplier to both commercial and defense OEMs.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $52.00/hr.

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 & AD&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)
  
  

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Rapids,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 31, 2025.

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® double diamond 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 [email protected] for other accommodation options.