Senior Purchasing Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Los Angeles, CA | Full-Time
Reports to: Senior Purchasing Manager

Plastpro is a leading manufacturer of high-quality fiberglass entry doors and building products. Our manufacturing operations depend on a global supplier network to provide the raw materials, components, equipment, and supplies needed to keep production running efficiently.

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Supervisor to oversee day-to-day purchasing activities, coordinate material orders, manage supplier communication, and supervise members of the purchasing team.

This is a hands-on role with significant interaction with suppliers in China and Taiwan, making Mandarin Chinese proficiency highly valuable.

The Purchasing Supervisor will work closely with the Senior Purchasing Manager to ensure materials and components are ordered accurately, delivered on time, and available to support manufacturing requirements.

You'll be responsible for the daily execution of purchasing activities—from reviewing material requirements and issuing purchase orders to following up with suppliers, monitoring shipments, resolving discrepancies, and maintaining accurate purchasing records.

You'll also supervise purchasing team members and help implement improved processes, procedures, and controls as Plastpro continues to strengthen its procurement and supply chain operations.

• Manage day-to-day purchasing of raw materials, components, equipment, supplies, and services.

• Coordinate inventory-related purchasing from suppliers in China and Taiwan.

• Review material requirements and purchase requisitions for accuracy and completeness.

• Issue and manage purchase orders in accordance with established purchasing guidelines.

• Monitor open purchase orders, supplier lead times, and delivery schedules.

• Follow up directly with suppliers to ensure materials arrive on time and escalate potential delays before they impact production.

• Communicate changes in specifications, quantities, purchase orders, and delivery requirements to suppliers.

• Coordinate purchasing priorities with Manufacturing, Planning, Warehouse, and other internal teams.

• Maintain strong day-to-day relationships with domestic and international suppliers.

• Communicate regularly with suppliers regarding pricing, availability, lead times, order status, and delivery.

• Support supplier negotiations involving pricing, terms, minimum order quantities, and other purchasing requirements.

• Assist with supplier claims, returns, shortages, damaged materials, quality concerns, and order discrepancies.

• Obtain and review supplier quotations and bids.

• Evaluate vendor pricing and service performance and provide recommendations to the Senior Purchasing Manager.

• Maintain accurate supplier information and purchasing documentation.

• Monitor inventory requirements and purchasing activity to help maintain appropriate material levels.

• Review historical purchasing and usage data to identify trends and anticipated material needs.

• Analyze supplier pricing and purchasing trends to identify potential cost increases or savings opportunities.

• Use Excel to maintain purchasing reports, analyze data, and track material and supplier activity.

• Monitor order quantities, delivery status, lead times, and other purchasing metrics.

• Identify potential material shortages and communicate risks to management.

• Supervise and support purchasing team members in their daily responsibilities.

• Assign and prioritize purchasing activities based on operational requirements.

• Review team members' work for accuracy and timely completion.

• Train employees on purchasing procedures, supplier communication, and internal processes.

• Coach and develop team members and provide ongoing performance feedback.

• Assist with performance evaluations and departmental goal setting.

• Maintain accurate purchase order, invoice, receiving, and supplier records.

• Identify inefficient or repetitive purchasing processes and recommend improvements.

• Assist the Senior Purchasing Manager with implementing new purchasing procedures, systems, and controls.

• Support improvements to ERP and purchasing processes as new capabilities are introduced.

• Maintain purchasing documentation and ensure compliance with company policies and approval requirements.

• Support special purchasing and supply chain projects as assigned.

• 3–5+ years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience, preferably supporting a manufacturing environment.

• Previous experience supervising, training, or leading purchasing employees preferred.

• Experience purchasing raw materials, components, or production-related supplies strongly preferred.

• Experience working with international suppliers, particularly suppliers in China and/or Taiwan, highly desirable.

• Mandarin Chinese proficiency strongly preferred for direct supplier communication.

• Experience creating and managing purchase orders and following orders through delivery.

• Strong supplier communication and relationship-management skills.

• Experience resolving supplier issues involving pricing, shortages, delays, claims, returns, or quality concerns.

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and ability to analyze purchasing and inventory information.

• Experience with ERP/MRP or purchasing systems preferred.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple orders, suppliers, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to identify issues before they disrupt manufacturing operations.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Associate's degree with relevant purchasing/procurement experience required, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.

• Purchase order management

• China & Taiwan supplier coordination

• Material availability

• Supplier follow-up

• Inventory purchasing

• Pricing and purchasing analysis

• Supplier claims and returns

• Delivery tracking

• Purchasing documentation

• Team supervision

• Excel reporting and analysis

• Process improvement

Success in this position means ensuring the right materials are ordered in the right quantities and arrive when our manufacturing teams need them.

You'll maintain close visibility into open orders and supplier commitments, proactively identify potential shortages or delays, maintain accurate purchasing information, and help strengthen supplier communication.

You'll also help the Senior Purchasing Manager establish more consistent processes and controls while ensuring the purchasing team executes day-to-day activities accurately and efficiently.