Vendor Management Specialist; CSR

Vendor Management Specialist

This mid-size manufacturing firm is seeking three Vendor Management Specialists for a 6-month temp-to-hire opportunity in South Seattle, WA. In this role, you manage a shared inbox, support 25–50 vendors, and ensure customer orders align with internal processes and production capabilities. You review and verify orders in the MRP system, communicate regularly with customers, and collaborate closely with production to meet required delivery dates.

Responsibilities

• Manage a shared email inbox daily and respond to customer and vendor inquiries within established time frames.
• Support and maintain relationships with approximately 25–50 vendors, ensuring clear communication and timely follow-up.
• Review the MRP system to ensure customer order due dates align with required delivery dates and production capacity.
• Verify customer purchase orders against internal work orders to confirm the company can comply with process requirements.
• Ensure all process requirements are correctly flowed down from customer purchase orders to internal work orders.
• Provide continuous updates to customers on the status of their orders within the allotted four-hour response time.
• Communicate with customers to obtain additional blueprints, drawings, or other documentation required for processing orders.
• Coordinate with production teams to obtain estimated completion dates (ECDs) for orders and relay this information to customers and vendors.
• Prepare orders in ship-out or other designated areas as needed to support on-time delivery.
• Develop daily reports on order status and communicate key updates and priorities to production.
• Collaborate regularly with production floor personnel and supervisors to resolve issues and keep orders on schedule.
• Perform data entry and maintain accurate records in ticketing systems, spreadsheets, and other administrative tools.
• Utilize Microsoft Office and other software tools to track orders, generate reports, and support operational workflows.

Essential Skills

• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required.
• Experience in customer service, with a focus on timely and professional communication.
• Experience in vendor management, preferably supporting multiple vendors simultaneously.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and working in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to review and work within an MRP system to validate order due dates and requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including email, spreadsheets, and basic document preparation.
• Strong administrative support skills, including accurate data entry and recordkeeping.
• Experience using a ticketing system and managing a high-volume email inbox.
• Ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams, including production and operations.
• Comfort communicating order status, requirements, and issues clearly to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to meet strict response times, including providing order status updates within a four-hour window.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience in a manufacturing or production environment is highly beneficial.
• Previous exposure to operations or supply chain functions is an advantage.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple orders and vendors at once.
• Attention to detail when verifying purchase orders, work orders, and process requirements.
• Ability to interpret and work with blueprints, drawings, or related documentation is a plus.
• Comfort developing and maintaining daily reports for production and operations teams.
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence engaging with production floor personnel and leadership.
• Motivation to grow with a firm that is expanding and offers long-term opportunities.

Work Environment

The role is based on-site in a manufacturing environment in South Seattle, WA. You will regularly move between an office setting and the production floor, engaging directly with production teams and supervisors. The position offers two shifts: a 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. shift and a 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. shift. The work involves frequent use of computers, MRP systems, ticketing tools, and Microsoft Office for email, reporting, and data…