Lights Core Buyer

Job Description

Position Summary

As a Lights Core Buyer, you'll be responsible for actively sourcing and purchasing automotive light cores from individual vendors, shops, recyclers, and suppliers across a designated region. This is a sales-centric, field-based role built around building relationships, negotiating purchases, and securing light cores to support remanufacturing operations — requiring local in-person vendor visits and price negotiation.

The ideal candidate is comfortable with a physically demanding role in a warehouse environment and regular travel, has strong interpersonal skills, and is familiar with the automotive industry.

What You'll Do

• Vendor Sourcing & Negotiation
  • Conduct in-person negotiations, pricing discussions, and deal closings with vendors.
  • Build and maintain strong vendor relationships to ensure a consistent pipeline of light cores.
  • Secure competitive pricing while maintaining quality standards and supply continuity.
  • Actively prospect new vendors through market research, cold outreach, and on-site visits.
  • Represent the company professionally as a primary point of contact for core buying.
  • Travel the assigned region to identify, source, and purchase automotive light cores from vendors, recyclers, body shops, and other suppliers.
• Logistics & Operations
  • Coordinate payment and logistics, including scheduling pickups or deliveries to remanufacturing locations.
  • Transport cores in a company Sprinter van and prep light cores for shipping.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to availability, quality, delivery timing, or vendor concerns.
• Reporting & Cross-Functional Partnership
  • Maintain accurate records of purchases, pricing, vendor interactions, and deliveries.
  • Monitor regional market trends, pricing fluctuations, and competitor activity.
  • Partner with internal procurement, logistics, and remanufacturing teams to align purchasing with operational needs.

What You'll Bring

• Minimum 2 years of experience in automotive repair, sales, procurement, or core/material buying, preferably automotive-related.
• High School Diploma/GED required.
• Demonstrated success in face-to-face sales or purchasing negotiations.
• Familiarity with automotive cores, specifically lights (remanufacturing experience a plus).
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport quickly.
• Comfortable working independently and managing a travel-heavy schedule.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple vendor relationships and transactions.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and basic purchasing or CRM tools.

Riverside, CA, United States