National Equipment & Service · 14 hours ago
Senior Purchasing Specialist
Irvine, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$80K/yr - $95K/yr
5+ years expNational Equipment & Service is seeking a Senior Purchasing Specialist to drive procurement excellence through expert handling of complex purchasing situations and strategic analysis. This role involves solving sourcing challenges, negotiating strategic purchases, and collaborating with Operations and Service teams to ensure efficiency and cost reduction.
Facilities Services
Responsibilities
Handle high-value, unusual, or time-sensitive procurement requiring expert judgment and creative problem-solving
Source hard-to-find parts and specialized equipment for unique customer requirements
Negotiate pricing and terms for large projects, capital equipment, and strategic purchases
Manage specialty procurement (food-grade equipment, custom fabrication, technical specifications, obsolete parts)
Resolve complex vendor issues, quality concerns, or delivery problems that standard processes can't address
Coordinate multi-vendor procurement for integrated systems or large installations
Serve as escalation point when purchasing situations require expertise beyond routine coordination
Make autonomous purchasing decisions for sophisticated scenarios without constant management oversight
Analyze spending patterns to identify cost reduction opportunities and sourcing inefficiencies
Partner with the Operations and Service teams on demand planning and optimal inventory level recommendations
Benchmark pricing against market rates and evaluate alternative sourcing strategies
Build business cases for make-vs-buy decisions and vendor consolidation opportunities
Track and report cost savings initiatives with measurable ROI
Use system-generated analytics to improve purchasing decisions and demand forecasting
Create purchasing dashboards providing visibility into procurement performance and cost trends
Negotiate improved pricing, payment terms, or service commitments with key suppliers
Evaluate and onboard new vendors when capability gaps or cost opportunities exist
Build strategic vendor relationships for priority service, technical support, and preferential pricing
Conduct vendor performance analysis and drive improvement discussions
Identify vendor consolidation opportunities simplifying procurement and increasing leverage
Design systematic purchasing workflows that eliminate firefighting and reactive patterns
Document best practices, decision frameworks, and escalation protocols
Drive systems and software optimization for procurement functions and analytics
Identify and eliminate process bottlenecks causing delays, errors, or inefficiency
Share purchasing expertise with parts coordination team through mentoring and knowledge transfer
Build purchasing capabilities across operations through training and documentation
Qualification
Required
5+ years purchasing/procurement experience with complex, non-routine purchasing situations
Proven track record sourcing difficult-to-find items and negotiating favorable terms
Strong problem-solving skills and expert judgment for sophisticated procurement decisions
Analytical capability using data to drive cost optimization and purchasing decisions
Proficiency with ERP, inventory management, and/or field service management software
Excellent negotiation and vendor relationship management skills
Valid driver's license and ability to meet with vendors or visit facilities as needed
Preferred
Experience in field service, industrial distribution, construction, or facilities maintenance
Familiarity with well known WMS/IMS software systems
APICS/CPIM certification or formal supply chain/procurement training
Background sourcing industrial equipment, dock equipment, doors, or specialty hardware
Experience in growing companies managing increasing procurement complexity
Demonstrated success reducing costs through strategic sourcing and negotiation
Company
National Equipment & Service
Southern California's service-first leader in loading dock equipment, commercial doors, and industrial solutions.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageCompany data provided by crunchbase