Entry Level Purchasing Project Manager Jobs
New grad purchasing project manager jobs open the door for recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or coursework in procurement and supply chain can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Food & Beverage, Education, and Science & Research, with employers like Jobot, Uline, and Sodexo hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 20+ Entry Level Purchasing Project Manager jobs
Buyer
Location: Plymouth, MI
Company: Optimal-EV
Employment Type: Full-Time
Start: Immediate / ASAP
About Optimal-EV
Optimal-EV is an innovative electric vehicle manufacturer focused on developing and producing next-generation electric shuttle buses and mobility solutions. We are seeking an experienced Buyer to join our team in Plymouth, Michigan and support our growing manufacturing and purchasing operations.
Position Summary
The Buyer will be responsible for purchasing a broad range of materials, components, parts, and services required to support Optimal-EV's manufacturing and engineering operations.
The ideal candidate will have at least 2-3 years of purchasing experience in an automotive supplier, manufacturing, or small-to-mid-sized business environment. We are particularly interested in candidates who have broad purchasing experience and have been involved with multiple types of materials, components, suppliers, and purchasing activities.
Experience with NetSuite is preferred but not required.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day purchasing activities for production, engineering, and operational requirements.
- Purchase a variety of materials, components, parts, and services needed to support manufacturing operations.
- Create and manage purchase orders, ensuring accurate pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery requirements.
- Identify and evaluate suppliers based on cost, quality, delivery, and capability.
- Request and evaluate supplier quotes and negotiate pricing, lead times, and commercial terms.
- Communicate directly with suppliers regarding pricing, availability, delivery schedules, quality concerns, and other purchasing matters.
- Monitor open purchase orders and proactively address late or delayed deliveries.
- Work closely with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to understand material requirements, specifications, and timing.
- Review BOMs, part numbers, material requirements, and other purchasing information.
- Coordinate with suppliers to ensure materials are available when needed to support production schedules.
- Partner with Quality and suppliers to resolve material and supplier-related issues.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier information, and purchase order data.
- Support supplier onboarding and maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Monitor material availability and help prevent production shortages.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings and improved purchasing efficiency.
- Support inventory and material planning activities.
- Assist with developing and maintaining supplier performance metrics.
- Ensure purchasing activities follow company policies and established processes.
- Take ownership of purchasing issues and drive them through resolution.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 2-3 years of purchasing, buying, procurement, or related experience.
- Experience working in an automotive supplier, manufacturing company, or small-to-mid-sized business environment.
- Strong understanding of purchasing processes, supplier management, purchase orders, pricing, lead times, and material requirements.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple purchasing categories, suppliers, and components.
- Strong negotiation, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of purchasing activities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with NetSuite or another ERP/MRP system.
- Automotive manufacturing or automotive supplier experience.
- Experience purchasing a broad range of mechanical, electrical, fabricated, machined, or other manufacturing components.
- Experience working with engineering drawings, BOMs, part numbers, and material specifications.
- Experience with supplier cost negotiations and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Experience supporting new product development or production launches.
- Knowledge of EV manufacturing and/or electric vehicle components is a plus.
Ideal Candidate Profile
We are looking for a hands-on Buyer who has broad exposure to purchasing and understands how purchasing decisions directly impact manufacturing operations.
Candidates coming from automotive suppliers, contract manufacturers, or small-to-mid-sized manufacturing companies are strongly preferred because these environments typically provide broader exposure to different commodities, suppliers, components, and purchasing activities.
The ideal candidate should be comfortable wearing multiple hats, working directly with suppliers, supporting Engineering and Manufacturing, resolving material shortages, negotiating pricing, and taking ownership from purchase order placement through delivery.
Hiring Timeline
This is an immediate hiring need, and we are looking to fill this position ASAP. We are prepared to interview qualified candidates throughout next week and move quickly with the right candidate.
Buyer
Location: Plymouth, MI
Company: Optimal-EV
Employment Type: Full-Time
Start: Immediate / ASAP
About Optimal-EV
Optimal-EV is an innovative electric vehicle manufacturer focused on developing and producing next-generation electric shuttle buses and mobility solutions. We are seeking an experienced Buyer to join our team in Plymouth, Michigan and support our growing manufacturing and purchasing operations.
Position Summary
The Buyer will be responsible for purchasing a broad range of materials, components, parts, and services required to support Optimal-EV's manufacturing and engineering operations.
The ideal candidate will have at least 2-3 years of purchasing experience in an automotive supplier, manufacturing, or small-to-mid-sized business environment. We are particularly interested in candidates who have broad purchasing experience and have been involved with multiple types of materials, components, suppliers, and purchasing activities.
Experience with NetSuite is preferred but not required.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day purchasing activities for production, engineering, and operational requirements.
- Purchase a variety of materials, components, parts, and services needed to support manufacturing operations.
- Create and manage purchase orders, ensuring accurate pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery requirements.
- Identify and evaluate suppliers based on cost, quality, delivery, and capability.
- Request and evaluate supplier quotes and negotiate pricing, lead times, and commercial terms.
- Communicate directly with suppliers regarding pricing, availability, delivery schedules, quality concerns, and other purchasing matters.
- Monitor open purchase orders and proactively address late or delayed deliveries.
- Work closely with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to understand material requirements, specifications, and timing.
- Review BOMs, part numbers, material requirements, and other purchasing information.
- Coordinate with suppliers to ensure materials are available when needed to support production schedules.
- Partner with Quality and suppliers to resolve material and supplier-related issues.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier information, and purchase order data.
- Support supplier onboarding and maintain strong supplier relationships.
- Monitor material availability and help prevent production shortages.
- Identify opportunities for cost savings and improved purchasing efficiency.
- Support inventory and material planning activities.
- Assist with developing and maintaining supplier performance metrics.
- Ensure purchasing activities follow company policies and established processes.
- Take ownership of purchasing issues and drive them through resolution.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 2-3 years of purchasing, buying, procurement, or related experience.
- Experience working in an automotive supplier, manufacturing company, or small-to-mid-sized business environment.
- Strong understanding of purchasing processes, supplier management, purchase orders, pricing, lead times, and material requirements.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple purchasing categories, suppliers, and components.
- Strong negotiation, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently and take ownership of purchasing activities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with NetSuite or another ERP/MRP system.
- Automotive manufacturing or automotive supplier experience.
- Experience purchasing a broad range of mechanical, electrical, fabricated, machined, or other manufacturing components.
- Experience working with engineering drawings, BOMs, part numbers, and material specifications.
- Experience with supplier cost negotiations and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Experience supporting new product development or production launches.
- Knowledge of EV manufacturing and/or electric vehicle components is a plus.
Ideal Candidate Profile
We are looking for a hands-on Buyer who has broad exposure to purchasing and understands how purchasing decisions directly impact manufacturing operations.
Candidates coming from automotive suppliers, contract manufacturers, or small-to-mid-sized manufacturing companies are strongly preferred because these environments typically provide broader exposure to different commodities, suppliers, components, and purchasing activities.
The ideal candidate should be comfortable wearing multiple hats, working directly with suppliers, supporting Engineering and Manufacturing, resolving material shortages, negotiating pricing, and taking ownership from purchase order placement through delivery.
Hiring Timeline
This is an immediate hiring need, and we are looking to fill this position ASAP. We are prepared to interview qualified candidates throughout next week and move quickly with the right candidate.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Education
- Science & Research
- Technology & Software
- Automotive
Entry Level Purchasing Project Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level purchasing project manager job?
Focus on building foundational skills in procurement, vendor coordination, and project tracking through internships, coursework, or volunteer work. Employers hiring at this level typically look for proficiency with spreadsheets or basic ERP tools, familiarity with purchase orders, and the ability to manage timelines. Tailoring your resume to show any supply chain exposure, even in academic projects, gives you a real edge over candidates with generic applications.
Which companies hire entry level purchasing project managers?
Companies hiring entry level purchasing project managers right now include Jobot, Uline, and Sodexo, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, hiring tends to come from manufacturing, logistics, and retail organizations that run structured training programs and need junior support on procurement workflows.
Are there remote entry level purchasing project manager jobs?
Yes, though most postings at this level skew on-site or hybrid rather than fully remote. About 23% of entry level purchasing project manager openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, so candidates with flexibility on location will find the widest range of opportunities, particularly with mid-size and enterprise employers who have distributed supply chain teams.
Are these new grad purchasing project manager jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior purchasing project manager roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or co-op work in lieu of full-time history, or calls out a degree in supply chain, business, or operations as sufficient. If the job description mentions training or mentorship, that is another strong signal the employer is open to candidates starting out.
Which industries hire the most entry level purchasing project managers?
Entry Level purchasing project manager roles concentrate in Food & Beverage, Education, and Science & Research, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they run high volumes of purchase orders, vendor relationships, and procurement cycles that benefit from dedicated junior project support.