Job Title: Purchasing Specialist

Job Description

We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Purchasing Specialist to manage customer orders, coordinate purchasing activities, and ensure the availability of raw materials and operational supplies. This role serves as a key liaison between customers, production, suppliers, logistics, and accounting to support efficient and accurate operations.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for all customer communications, ensuring timely and professional responses.Receive customer orders, accurately enter them into the blending system, and verify all order details.Coordinate with the scheduling supervisor to confirm production and delivery dates.Send order confirmations to customers and provide updates as needed.Organize and lead weekly meetings with the production scheduling supervisor to reconcile all outstanding customer orders with production orders in the system, ensuring alignment and accuracy.Analyze customer forecasts to determine raw material requirements and maintain adequate inventory levels.Prepare and submit requests to Italy for raw material pricing.Review and compile pricing information received from Italy, prepare price lists accordingly, generate purchase orders, and place orders with approved suppliers.Provide the logistics department with a complete overview of all open purchase orders, including EXW and DAP shipments.Plan and manage quarterly purchases for materials sourced overseas, considering long lead times and supply chain constraints.Perform daily physical checks of non-inventory items to ensure sufficient stock and prevent operational disruptions.Monitor critical consumables and coordinate timely replenishment as needed.Manage all supplier communications, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring timely follow-up on pricing, orders, and deliveries.Proactively address and resolve any supplier-related issues.Collaborate with the accounting department to review and resolve discrepancies between purchase orders and supplier invoices.Manage all import documentation for containers arriving from overseas and provide customs brokers with all necessary documentation to ensure smooth and timely clearance through U.S. customs.

Essential Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including v-lookups, pivot tables, and formulas.Experience in forecasting.Background in manufacturing.Strong skills in purchasing, purchase order management, and inventory control.Ability to coordinate effectively across various departments including logistics and accounting.Excellent customer service and vendor management skills.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

Experience with Microsoft Office suite.Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

Work Environment

This position is onsite in an office environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Olive Branch, MS.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.85 - $31.25/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job\n classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be\n subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits\n available for this temporary role may include the following:\n\n
• Medical, dental & vision\n
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital\n
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available\n
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)\n
• Short and long-term disability\n
• Health Spending Account (HSA)\n
• Transportation benefits\n
• Employee Assistance Program\n
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Olive Branch,MS.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 28, 2026.

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\nAbout Aston Carter\n\n

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.

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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.

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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 astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

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