Lead Buyer

Purchasing Lead

A growing manufacturing company in Carlsbad is seeking a Purchasing Lead to join their team on a contract-to-hire basis. This role is crucial for supporting operations by managing procurement activities, leading a small team, and optimizing purchasing processes. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in manufacturing, hands-on ERP experience, and a collaborative leadership style. Responsibilities include leading and supervising a team of 2-4 buyers, managing internal and external purchasing of raw materials and office equipment, creating and sending purchase orders to vendors for supplies and materials, communicating with vendors by email and phone regarding purchase orders, checking purchase orders, updating notes, and calendar check-back dates, authorizing payments and maintaining receipts, records, and inventories, seeking approvals for purchase orders to be taken off hold and received, coordinating shipments to and from vendors, including all needed paperwork, collaborating with vendors, production supervisors, and customer service, streamlining purchasing processes using Acumatica ERP, organizing and structuring workflows, maintaining meticulous notes, and implementing new strategies and driving operational improvements.

Essential Skills include 5-7 years of experience in purchasing or procurement roles, the ability to lead or supervise others, strong ERP experience (SAP required; Acumatica a plus), manufacturing industry experience, excellent attention to detail and analytical thinking, and strong organizational and communication skills. Additional Skills & Qualifications include experience in the biotech industry, background in creating structure and streamlining processes, the ability to take and implement feedback effectively, and being comfortable stepping down from a previous management role.

Work Environment : This is an onsite role in Carlsbad, CA working closely with other department supervisors. The team culture is tight-knit and collaborative, with an emphasis on communication and teamwork. The dress code is business casual, and the role operates from Monday to Friday, 8 : 00 AM to 5 : 00 PM.

Job Type & Location : This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Carlsbad, CA. Pay and Benefits : The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00 / 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 Carlsbad, CA. Application Deadline : This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 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.