Procurement Specialist at American Iron & Metal in Colton, CA

Company Description

American Iron & Metal (AIM) is a family-owned company and recognized global leader in the metal recycling industry with more than 125 sites and 4000 employees worldwide. We have continued to prosper for the last eight decades thanks to the dedication of our employees and the ongoing trust and support of our customers.

Become part of team AIM, a growing team with an entrepreneurial spirit who has over the years evolved into a successful and multifaceted company with business divisions that include metal recycling, decommissioning and demolition, auto-parts sales and recycling, manufacturing of solder assemblies, construction waste recycling, and production of customized industrial and mining products.

We take pride in doing good things for the environment to help create a greener, more sustainable future for all.

It’s simple; we do it right. We AIM for excellence.

Job Description

The Procurement Specialist plays a key role in supporting recycling operations by overseeing procurement and purchasing activities while ensuring inventory availability for critical parts, tools, equipment, and maintenance supplies. The role is responsible for managing the full procurement lifecycle, including supplier sourcing, RFQs, quote evaluation, purchase order issuance, vendor performance, and delivery follow-up. Working closely with Operations and Maintenance, the Procurement Specialist ensures materials are available when needed, minimizes downtime, identifies cost-saving opportunities, and maintains compliance with AIM procurement policies and procedures.

What you’re responsible for:

Procurement & Purchasing

• Manage the end-to-end procurement process for parts, equipment, maintenance supplies, services, and operational materials.
• Coordinate with the Corporate Procurement Team to leverage AIM-wide contracts and negotiated pricing whenever applicable.
• Identify procurement requirements and initiate Requests for Quotes (RFQs) based on operational needs and inventory replenishment.
• Ensure a competitive sourcing process is followed in accordance with AIM procurement policies.
• Evaluate supplier quotations based on pricing, quality, lead time, service, and payment terms.
• Prepare, issue, and manage purchase orders (POs) in a timely manner.
• Track and expedite deliveries to prevent operational downtime.
• Coordinate purchase order logistics, stock transfers, deliveries, tagging, and receiving activities.
• Process and document vendor returns in accordance with company procedures.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships while continuously identifying cost-saving opportunities and process improvements.

Inventory Management

• Monitor inventory levels for parts, supplies, and maintenance materials used in recycling operations.
• Maintain and review minimum and maximum inventory levels based on usage trends.
• Perform regular cycle counts and annual physical inventory audits.
• Update Maximo to accurately reflect inventory transactions and investigate inventory discrepancies.
• Track inventory movements to prevent stockouts and overstock situations.
• Ensure critical spare parts are available to support continuous plant operations.

Supplier & Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Monitor supplier performance for quality, pricing, delivery, and responsiveness.
• Resolve supplier issues related to quality, shortages, pricing discrepancies, and delivery delays.
• Support supplier evaluations and continuous improvement initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Investigate and resolve purchase order discrepancies, including quantity, pricing, quality, and delivery issues, in coordination with vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to forecast material requirements and prioritize purchases.
• Communicate inventory status, purchasing updates, and delivery schedules to stakeholders.
• Support cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and Asset Management Planners to maintain accurate asset and spare parts as needed.
• Ensure compliance with AIM procurement policies, purchasing procedures, and inventory control standards.

Qualifications

To join our team:

• You have at least 2 years of experience in inventory, purchasing, or materials management within a manufacturing or industrial environment
• You have experience managing inventory counts, reorder points, and purchase orders across a high‑volume parts environment
• You have working knowledge of inventory systems (Maximo preferred) and are comfortable using Excel
• You are highly organized, detail‑oriented, and capable of managing priorities independently
• You are proactive, self‑motivated, and communicate effectively with operations, maintenance, and vendors

Additional Information

What we offer!:

• A competitive annual salary (72,000-79,000), vacation, benefits and a 401k matching program
• Annual AIM tuition scholarship program up to $8,500 per eligible dependents
• The tools and support needed to be successful in your career and professional development
• A dynamic & rewarding work environment that is also a lot of fun!