Supply Chain Buyer I

Description

Company Overview

Since 1904, Nelson Miller Group (NMG) has been a leading global provider of custom engineering and manufacturing solutions across industrial, IoT, lighting, medical, telecommunications, consumer, and aerospace & defense sectors. We bring ideas to life through global Joint Design Manufacturing—helping customers innovate, grow, and deliver products the world can depend on.

At the heart of our culture is The Nelson Miller Group Way : Unleash the Power of One — One Global Team / One Vision / One Commitment . Our century-long legacy is built on a deep commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and unwavering customer satisfaction—principles strengthened by our TEAM core values: Take Ownership, Exceed Expectations, Act with Integrity, and Make an Impact.

Position Summary

The Supply Chain Buyer I role supports Nelson Miller Group's City of Industry operation and is responsible for purchasing materials for multiple NMG sites from the California HQ office as needed. The role manages assigned materials and purchase orders through the full order life cycle (RFQ to Cash)—from RFQ and order placement through supplier confirmation, shipment, delivery, and receipt.

In addition to day-to-day buying activities, this position coordinates domestic and international logistics, monitors purchase price variance (PPV), and negotiates routine pricing, freight, lead-time, and commercial improvements with suppliers. The Buyer I works closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams across different locations and time zones to maintain material availability, control cost, and support customer and production requirements.

This team member will work collaboratively with other buyers and receive guidance and mentoring from a Senior Buyer. The successful candidate is expected to learn continuously, accept coaching, and take ownership of assigned tasks through completion.

Key Responsibilities

Multi-Site Purchasing & Purchase Order Management

Purchase assigned raw materials, components, finished goods, and related supplies for multiple NMG sites.

Create, release, and maintain purchase orders in Epicor, ensuring accurate part numbers, HTS codes, pricing, quantities, revisions, due dates, ship-to locations, lead times, and terms.

Manage assigned purchases from RFQ and quote review through PO placement, supplier acknowledgment, shipment, delivery, and receipt.

Review demand, inventory, open orders, forecasts, and production priorities to place orders on time and reduce shortage, excess, and expedite risks.

Track open and past-due POs; secure updated supplier commitments and escalate material risks before they affect production or customer delivery.

Coordinate PO changes, reschedules, cancellations, expedites, and inter-site requirements with planning, operations, and suppliers.

Logistics & Shipment Coordination

Coordinate domestic and international shipments with suppliers, freight forwarders, carriers, customs brokers, 3PL partners, and receiving teams.

Select or recommend shipment methods based on required delivery dates, cost, service level, and business risk.

Obtain and review shipping documents, tracking information, shipment status, and delivery appointments; maintain accurate updates in Epicor and applicable reports.

Support consolidation, routing, expedite, and freight-cost reduction opportunities across NMG sites.

Resolve routine shipment delays, delivery discrepancies, freight claims, and documentation issues, escalating significant risks when needed.

PPV, Cost Control & Supplier Negotiation

Monitor purchase price variance (PPV) against standard cost, prior purchase price, quote, budget, and approved pricing.

Investigate unfavorable PPV and pricing discrepancies, document root causes, and coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Negotiate routine pricing, MOQs, lead times, freight terms, payment terms, expedite charges, and other commercial conditions within assigned authority.

Identify and pursue cost-reduction opportunities through competitive quotes, volume leverage, order consolidation, alternate sources, and improved commercial terms.

Maintain supporting quotations and negotiation records, providing timely PPV and savings updates to Supply Chain leadership.

Supplier & Cross-Functional Collaboration

Maintain professional, responsive communication with assigned domestic and international suppliers.

Partner with Planning, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Sales, Customer Service, Warehouse, and other Supply Chain team members to support business priorities.

Work closely with other buyers, sharing priorities and workload as needed, while receiving mentoring from a Senior Buyer.

Coordinate actions with NMG sites and global teams in different time zones; participate in occasional early-morning or evening calls when business needs require.

Communicate material status, shortages, cost changes, shipment risks, and recovery plans clearly to affected stakeholders.

Support supplier performance reviews and improvement actions related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, lead time, and cost.

Reporting, Compliance & Process Improvement

Prepare and maintain reports for open POs, shortages, late orders, inbound shipments, PPV, cost savings, and supplier performance.

Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier correspondence, quotes, approvals, and shipment documentation in accordance with company procedures.

Follow applicable purchasing controls, approval requirements, import/export procedures, and quality-management processes.

Assist in creating and improving purchasing and logistics SOPs, work instructions, dashboards, and standardized workflows.

Perform additional purchasing, logistics, supply chain, administrative, or related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Required

Experience: 1–3 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, logistics, or materials, preferably in a manufacturing environment.

Core Knowledge: Working knowledge of purchase orders, supplier follow-up, lead times, MOQs, pricing, and shipment coordination.

ERP/MRP: Experience using an ERP or MRP system (Epicor preferred); ability to maintain accurate purchasing and delivery data.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Outlook, with the ability to organize, compare, and report purchasing data.

Communication: Effective written and verbal communication skills, with confidence communicating directly with suppliers and cross-functional teams.

Problem-Solving: Strong analytical, negotiation, follow-through, and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail.

Multi-Tasking: Ability to manage multiple sites, suppliers, purchase orders, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Work Ethic: Strong ownership, sense of urgency, integrity, and accountability; ability to identify risks and escalate issues appropriately.

Growth Mindset: Demonstrated willingness to learn, accept feedback, and persist until assigned tasks and follow-ups are completed.

Location/Flexibility: Ability to work on-site in City of Industry, California, with flexibility to collaborate across U.S. and international time zones as required.

Preferred

Associate or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Logistics, or a related discipline.

Epicor experience and familiarity with purchasing, inventory, and receiving transactions.

Experience supporting multiple manufacturing locations or working with international suppliers and freight partners.

Basic understanding of PPV, standard cost, landed cost, Incoterms, import documentation, and supplier performance metrics.

Bilingual in Mandarin is a plus.

Key Success Measures

On-time PO placement, supplier acknowledgment, and purchasing-data accuracy.

Reduction in past-due orders, shortages, and avoidable expedite costs.

Supplier