Purchasing Specialist

We are looking for a Purchasing Specialist to join a service-focused organization in Texas on a contract-to-permanent basis. This role is ideal for a procurement specialist who can confidently manage purchasing operations in a machine shop or manufacturing environment while building strong supplier relationships. The right candidate will bring a practical approach to cost control, material availability, and cross-functional support for production and engineering needs.

Responsibilities:

• Direct the full purchasing cycle, from identifying needs and issuing purchase orders to tracking deliveries and closing out transactions accurately.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop supplier partnerships that improve pricing, service levels, and overall supply reliability.
• Negotiate commercial terms with vendors, including cost, lead times, and payment conditions, to support business objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance and address quality, delivery, or service concerns to maintain dependable material flow.
• Work closely with inventory, engineering, and production teams to align purchasing activity with demand forecasts and operational priorities.
• Review material availability and respond quickly to shortages or delayed shipments to reduce disruption to daily operations.
• Maintain current pricing and purchasing records, including cost updates and related documentation, to support accurate planning and reporting.
• Investigate and resolve purchasing discrepancies, invoice issues, and supplier-related problems in a timely manner.
• Use purchasing and inventory data to identify trends, improve decision-making, and strengthen overall procurement performance.
• At least 3 years of purchasing experience within a machine shop or manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage purchase orders and day-to-day procurement activities with a high level of accuracy.
• Experience using Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains in a purchasing or related operational role.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to organize, analyze, and interpret purchasing data.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to secure favorable pricing and vendor terms.
• Solid understanding of supplier management, inventory support, and material planning concepts.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to collaborate with vendors and internal departments.
• Proven problem-solving ability when handling shortages, delivery delays, and other purchasing challenges.