Senior Buyer

Job Title: Senior Buyer

Department: Operations
Reports To: General Manager
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt (Salary)
Location: Ventura, California (On-site)

Position Summary

AquaStar Pool Products, Inc., a leading U.S. manufacturer of high-quality pool and spa products, is seeking an experienced Senior Buyer to independently manage the purchase of components and raw materials used in manufacturing. Reporting to the General Manager, this individual-contributor role will own an assigned supplier and component portfolio, including purchase-order execution, supplier negotiations, shortage resolution, targeted sourcing, and inbound import coordination.

Key Responsibilities

• Purchasing Execution: Review requirements; issue, maintain, and expedite purchase orders; secure supplier commitments; and resolve shortages, production holds, quantity discrepancies, and delivery delays.
• Replenishment and Inventory: Evaluate demand, usage, lead times, minimum order quantities, current inventory, and open purchase orders to make sound purchasing decisions. Maintain accurate supplier lead times and purchasing parameters in the ERP system in coordination with Operations and Finance.
• Supplier Management and Sourcing: Manage day-to-day supplier relationships, negotiate pricing and terms, qualify alternate sources as needed, and monitor supplier performance for quality, cost, and on-time delivery.
• Inbound Materials and Imports: Coordinate domestic and international inbound shipments with suppliers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers. Confirm supplier readiness, shipping documentation, customs clearance, duties, tariffs, landed costs, and delivery timing.
• Analysis and Reporting: Use ERP data and Excel to identify purchasing risks and opportunities and report on lead times, supplier performance, purchase-price changes, cost savings, inventory commitments, and landed costs.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner with R&D, Finance, and Operations on new-product introductions, engineering changes, component substitutions, supplier readiness, and externally held molds and tooling.

Qualifications / Experience

• Experience: 5+ years of direct purchasing experience, with primary responsibility for issuing purchase orders, managing suppliers, negotiating pricing and terms, and ensuring component availability. Candidates whose experience is primarily in production planning, logistics, warehouse operations, or inventory control without substantial direct purchasing ownership will not meet the requirements of this position.
• Manufacturing Purchasing: Experience purchasing components, raw materials, or industrial products affected by changing demand, multilevel assembly requirements, supplier lead times, and material-cost fluctuations.
• Import Coordination: Hands-on experience with international suppliers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers, including working knowledge of Incoterms, import documentation, duties, tariffs, and landed cost.
• Systems and Analytics: Strong ERP/MRP and Excel skills, including the ability to analyze large data sets and independently evaluate replenishment requirements; NetSuite or a comparable manufacturing ERP is preferred.
• Judgment and Communication: Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing requirements, communicate risks concisely, solve problems, and drive supplier and cross-functional follow-through.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• This is a fully onsite role based at AquaStar Pool Products’ facility in Ventura, CA.
• The position involves regular use of computers and standard office equipment and periodic activity in warehouse and production areas; reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable qualified individuals to perform essential job functions.

Compensation

This position is salaried and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and California labor law. Compensation is based on experience and qualifications.

Expected Pay Range:
$95,000 – $120,000 annually

This range reflects the anticipated base salary for a full-time, exempt employee in Ventura County, California. Actual compensation may vary depending on relevant experience.

This position is eligible for:

• Health insurance
• Paid holidays and vacation
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution

Additional Information

AquaStar Pool Products, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

AquaStar Pool Products, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.