Import Buyer

Job Summary

We are seeking an organized and detail-oriented Import Buyer or Senior Import Buyer for a direct hire opportunity in Norwalk, CA. This role supports international purchasing, supplier communication, import logistics, shipment tracking, and inventory availability for a consumer packaged goods manufacturing environment.

The Import Buyer will work closely with overseas suppliers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, warehouse teams, sales, accounting, and management to help ensure products are ordered, shipped, received, and available on time. This is a strong opportunity for a dependable purchasing professional who enjoys vendor follow-up, international supply chain coordination, food product imports, and cross-functional teamwork.

This position offers the opportunity to join a collaborative operation with supportive leadership, stable business needs, and room to grow within purchasing and supply chain. Candidates with senior-level import buying experience can step into a more independent role, while strong junior-level candidates may have the opportunity to develop deeper expertise in international purchasing, supplier management, and import operations.

Key Responsibilities

- Assist with or manage purchase orders for assigned products, vendors, and product categories.
- Communicate with domestic and international suppliers regarding pricing, availability, lead times, production status, and shipment updates.
- Coordinate with freight forwarders, customs brokers, shipping partners, warehouse teams, and internal departments to support timely product movement.
- Track international shipments, container status, estimated arrival dates, delivery schedules, and related documentation.
- Review supplier pricing, freight costs, landed cost details, product data, and purchasing records for accuracy.
- Support inventory planning, reorder timing, product availability, sourcing projects, supplier documentation, and issue resolution.

Compensation and Benefits

- Direct hire opportunity.
- Location: Norwalk, CA.
- Salary range: $52,000 to $83,200 per year.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

The Know Your Rights poster is available here:

The pay transparency policy is available here:

For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AppleOne is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AppleOne participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Additional Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills

- Manage or support international purchase orders, supplier communication, shipment tracking, and import documentation.
- Coordinate freight forwarding, customs broker communication, delivery schedules, and internal purchasing follow-up.
- Monitor pricing, landed costs, vendor confirmations, inventory needs, and purchasing priorities.
- Support cross-functional communication with sales, warehouse, accounting, management, and supplier partners.

- 3 to 5+ years of experience in purchasing, buying, procurement, supply chain, logistics, import/export, or related administrative support.
- 6+ years of relevant experience preferred for Senior Import Buyer consideration.
- Strong Excel skills, reporting ability, and comfort maintaining accurate purchasing, supplier, product, cost, and shipment data.
- Strong follow-up skills with the ability to manage multiple vendors, shipments, deadlines, and details.
- Good written and verbal communication skills for internal teams, vendors, and logistics partners.
- Highly organized, dependable, proactive, and detail-oriented.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while coordinating with multiple departments and external partners.
- Interest in or experience with international purchasing, import logistics, food products, supply chain operations, or vendor coordination.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience with overseas suppliers, freight forwarding, customs, shipping, or import logistics.
- Bilingual Mandarin skills for communication with overseas suppliers.
- Food, beverage, CPG, wholesale distribution, manufacturing, or import/export industry experience.
- SAGE experience.
- Food safety, supplier documentation, product specification, or import compliance documentation experience.
- Experience reviewing supplier quotes, vendor capabilities, samples, pricing updates, freight costs, and landed cost information.