Job Title: Procurement ManagerJob Description The Procurement Manager oversees the company’s procurement activities, including sourcing strategy, supplier management, inventory oversight, and cost optimization. This role serves as a key partner to engineering, manufacturing, finance, and quality teams, ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality materials and delivering operational excellence across the organization. Responsibilities + Develop and refine procurement strategies aligned with company goals. + Lead sourcing initiatives for new suppliers, ensuring performance, quality, and cost competitiveness. + Negotiate pricing, payment terms, contracts, and long-term agreements. + Monitor supplier KPIs, including on-time delivery, cost trends, and quality metrics. + Review requisitions and oversee purchase order creation, approval, and follow-through. + Communicate order status updates to internal teams throughout the purchasing lifecycle. + Resolve issues related to supplier performance, shipping, receiving, and invoice discrepancies. + Maintain ERP data accuracy and leverage system tools for purchasing efficiency. + Oversee raw material and component inventory levels to ensure supply continuity for production and R&D. + Monitor inventory turnover, safety stock levels, and lead time requirements; adjust planning as needed. + Collaborate with manufacturing and planning teams to forecast material needs and prevent shortages. + Perform or support regular cycle counts and inventory reconciliation to maintain accuracy. + Identify excess or obsolete inventory and recommend cost-effective mitigation strategies. + Conduct detailed spend analysis, cost modeling, and trend forecasting. + Prepare procurement KPIs, supplier rankings, inventory metrics, and strategic reports for leadership. + Identify and implement cost-savings initiatives. + Approve supplier invoices and ensure compliance with negotiated terms. + Partner with engineering on material specifications, quality requirements, and supplier qualification. + Coordinate with manufacturing to align procurement and inventory plans with production schedules. + Support company-wide initiatives related to cost reduction, supply chain optimization, and continuous improvement. + Contribute to the development of long-term supply chain and inventory strategies. Essential Skills + 5+ years of procurement experience, with at least 2 years in a manufacturing environment. + Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business, or relevant field (experience can replace degree). + Proven success in supplier negotiation, purchasing operations, and inventory management. + Understanding of supply chain, procurement, and inventory management best practices. + Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed decisions. + Excellent communication skills across all levels of the organization. + Organizational and prioritization abilities in a dynamic environment. + Proficient in Microsoft Office with advanced Excel skills. Additional Skills & Qualifications + Certifications like CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management), CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) are a plus. Work Environment Primarily office-based with periodic interaction on the manufacturing floor. The work hours are Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm, with potential flexibility on shift times. The dress code is business casual. The role may require sitting, standing, and light lifting (less than 50 lbs), and regular use of a computer. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of State College, PA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $34.00 - $43.00/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 State College,PA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Feb 11, 2026. 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. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com (%20astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com) for other accommodation options.