Purchasing Specialist

About the role

We are looking for a detail-oriented Purchasing Specialist to support purchasing operations for a manufacturing environment in Youngstown, Ohio. This role focuses on keeping materials, packaging, and outside processing activities aligned with production needs through active supplier communication and accurate order management. The ideal candidate will help maintain purchasing records, resolve supply issues promptly, and contribute to dependable material availability across the business.

Responsibilities

• Monitor open purchase orders each day, follow up with suppliers on overdue raw materials, packaging, and outside processing, and provide clear delivery updates to internal teams.
• Maintain accurate purchasing and manufacturing order information within company systems to support planning, scheduling, and inventory visibility.
• Track rejected material claims with suppliers, coordinate replacement or return activity, issue debit-related documentation, and confirm credit resolution in partnership with quality and internal stakeholders.
• Review engineering change activity and update purchasing-related specifications or open orders based on direction from purchasing leadership.
• Conduct routine supplier reviews on upcoming deliveries and material readiness to verify on-time shipment performance and alignment with required order quantities.
• Support company-wide expediting efforts to secure materials and processing services needed to meet customer demand and plant production schedules.
• Assist with material shortage analysis and provide timely information to procurement leadership to help reduce supply risk.
• Help prepare and release purchase orders as assigned, while also working with accounting and inventory teams to resolve receiving or invoice discrepancies.
• Follow established operating procedures, report issues or progress to the Purchasing Manager, and provide backup support for purchasing leadership when needed.

Requirements

• Experience supporting purchasing, procurement, or supply chain activities within a manufacturing setting.
• Working knowledge of purchase order processing, supplier follow-up, and order status management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy in system updates and documentation.
• Strong communication skills for coordinating with suppliers and internal departments such as quality, accounting, and inventory control.
• Familiarity with handling material claims, delivery issues, and invoice or receiving discrepancies.
• Analytical ability to identify shortages, review order health, and support timely decision-making.
• Proficiency with business systems and standard office tools used for purchasing records and reporting.

Benefits

Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in the company 401(k) plan.