Purchasing Agent

Lykes Ranch located in Okeechobee, Florida

REPORTS TO

Corporate Controller

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

LAST REVISED

Purchasing Agent

JOB PURPOSE:

Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational ability. Perform functions to purchase equipment, vehicles, supplies, and services to support Lykes operations. Monitor all purchasing activities and design various cost-effective methods according to demands, guided by precedent and working within the limits of established policies.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Communicate and collaborate with department heads.
• Demonstrate high levels of expectation for quality customer service for all internal and external customers.
• Evaluate suppliers based on price, quality, and availability. Prepare bid requests and purchase orders, pursuing competitive bids on all purchases. Take into account variables such as bid market conditions and competing localized bidding activities. Identify advantageous packaging opportunities. Research, identify, and qualify new suppliers and contractors.
• Review bid proposals and negotiate contracts within budgetary limitations and scope of authority. Implement various purchasing strategies and procurement policies to ensure cost savings. Administer, extend, suspend, terminate, and renegotiate contracts for services and purchase orders for goods.
• Coordinate the delivery of items from vendors. Expedite items as necessary to ensure timely delivery. Advise management as to the cost and delivery time of products and supplies. Accept deliveries of supplies ordered.
• Purchase, troubleshoot, and maintain cell phones and wireless accounts.
• Retain detailed and organized files and reports. Evaluate and maintain all records for relevant inventory and orders. Maintain an efficient purchase order system to ensure accuracy. Review and maintain records of daily fuel prices.
• Reconcile delivery receipts and invoices. Forward documents to accounts payable for payment.
• Support Lykes Bros. savings, budget and business plan goals.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Perform or assist with operations, as required to maintain workflow and to meet schedules and quality requirements.
• Participate in a variety of meetings and work groups to integrate activities, communicate issues, obtain approvals, resolve problems, and maintain specified level of knowledge pertaining to new developments, requirements, and policies.
• Management of vehicle recall notices.
• Leased vehicle monitoring in Enterprise website.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A. Certificates, licenses, and registrations: Valid driver’s license with insurability.
• B. Knowledge/Skills:
  • Demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office and other software required by position.
  • Able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. Excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills.
  • Knowledge of mathematics and calculations as required by the position.
  • Ability to interact effectively with staff, vendors, and various levels of management is required.
  • Knowledge of negotiating contracts, bids, and purchasing. Ability to negotiate and administer various agreements and contracts with divergent interests.
  • Must possess superior organizational skills and acute attention to detail.
  • Be flexible and have ability to adapt to changing situations and priorities.
• C. Education/Experience:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field.
  • Three to five years of experience in Procurement or closely related position.
• D. Physical Demands & Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear. The individual is occasionally required to climb or balance; walk on uneven surfaces, stoop, kneel crouch or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision. While the position has office-related responsibilities, there are periods of intense physical activity required during field work and site visits. Occasionally may be required to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

The characteristics described above 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 to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Management has the right to assign or reassign the description to this job at any time.