Jr. Buyer

Junior Buyer

The Junior Buyer is responsible for supporting the procurement of materials, components, supplies, and services necessary to support manufacturing and business operations. This role assists with purchasing activities, supplier communication, purchase order processing, inventory support, pricing and delivery coordination, and maintaining accurate purchasing records. The Junior Buyer works closely with Production, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Inventory, and Accounting to help ensure materials are available when needed, purchased at competitive costs, and received according to established specifications and delivery requirements. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, follow-through, communication, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Include but are not limited to:

• Review purchasing requirements and assist with procuring raw materials, components, parts, supplies, equipment, and services based on established business and production needs.
• Prepare, enter, process, and maintain purchase orders accurately and in accordance with established purchasing procedures.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotations, pricing, lead times, availability, and terms to support cost-effective purchasing decisions.
• Communicate with suppliers regarding product availability, pricing, order status, delivery schedules, backorders, and other purchasing-related matters.
• Monitor open purchase orders and follow up with suppliers to ensure materials and products are delivered according to required timelines.
• Coordinate with Production, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Inventory, and other internal departments regarding material requirements, specifications, quantities, and delivery needs.
• Assist in identifying and resolving purchasing, delivery, quantity, pricing, quality, and invoicing discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, including purchase orders, quotations, supplier information, pricing, delivery information, and related documentation.
• Assist with maintaining and updating supplier and item information in the Company's ERP or purchasing systems.
• Support inventory management activities by monitoring material requirements, inventory levels, lead times, and purchasing needs to help prevent shortages or excess inventory.
• Assist in researching alternative suppliers, materials, and components when requested to support cost savings, availability, quality, or production requirements.
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Assist with supplier performance monitoring, including delivery performance, responsiveness, pricing, and quality concerns.
• Review purchase order acknowledgments and supplier confirmations for accuracy and communicate discrepancies or changes to the appropriate internal personnel.
• Coordinate with Accounts Payable and other departments to assist with resolving purchase order, receiving, pricing, and invoice discrepancies.
• Assist with maintaining purchasing reports and providing information regarding purchasing activity, open orders, supplier status, pricing, and material availability.
• Follow established purchasing policies, procedures, internal controls, quality requirements, and applicable company standards.
• Maintain confidentiality of company, supplier, pricing, purchasing, and other business information.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to purchasing processes, supplier relationships, inventory management, cost reduction, and operational efficiency.
• Participate in meetings and cross-functional projects related to procurement, production planning, inventory, supplier management, and operational requirements.
• Assist with special purchasing projects and other procurement-related assignments as directed by management.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

High school diploma or equivalent and two years' experience in sales or customer service role or an equivalent combination of education and/or related experience. Associate degree and experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, inventory, supply chain, manufacturing, or a related administrative role preferred.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or production environment preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; additional education or coursework in business, supply chain management, purchasing, logistics, or a related field preferred.
• Familiarity with purchase orders, vendor communications, inventory processes, and basic procurement practices preferred.
• Read and understand product specifications, part numbers, quantities, pricing, and delivery requirements.
• Ability to work effectively with suppliers and internal departments to resolve purchasing and material-related issues.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in processing purchase orders and maintaining records.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple assignments and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, follow established procedures, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Maintain confidentiality of company, supplier, pricing, and purchasing information.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Experience with an ERP, MRP, purchasing, inventory, or other business management system preferred.
• Knowledge of basic purchasing and procurement principles and practices.
• Understanding of purchase orders, supplier quotations, pricing, lead times, delivery schedules, and inventory requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal departments and external suppliers.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 25 pounds occasionally and/or frequently.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods while performing office and manufacturing-related duties.
• Ability to perform repetitive computer and administrative tasks requiring manual dexterity.
• Visual acuity, speech, and hearing; hand-eye coordination, utilizing near and far vision, depth perception, and manual dexterity necessary to work with various materials, and objects and operate a telephone, computer keyboard, and basic office equipment which are essential aspects of this position.
• Familiarity with operating systems such as Windows or macOS. Understanding how to navigate the user interface, access programs, manage files and folders, and perform basic system operations.