Purchasing Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Purchasing Specialist

Department: Supply Chain / Procurement

Reports To: Supply Chain Manager

Salary: $60k-$70k

Position Summary

The Purchasing Specialist is responsible for the strategic procurement, coordination, and management of materials, supplies, and services required to support manufacturing and business operations. This role ensures timely and cost-effective acquisition while maintaining compliance with quality standards and optimizing inventory performance.

Core Responsibilities

• Procurement & Order Management
• Place, schedule, and monitor purchase orders for finished goods, intermediate goods, raw materials, and operational supplies.
• Manage procurement for production, logistics, office supplies, and other requested materials or equipment.
• Collaborate with Material Planning to determine optimal order quantities and scheduling.
• Supplier Coordination & Logistics
• Process orders and shipments from external warehouses.
• Communicate lead times, shipping terms, and delivery expectations with vendors.
• Negotiate pricing and terms where applicable.
• Travel to vendor sites as necessary to maintain supplier relationships.
• Inventory & Supply Chain Optimization
• Maintain appropriate min/max stock levels for consumable supplies.
• Support initiatives to reduce inventory days on hand and minimize expired materials.
• Monitor and ensure on-time delivery (OTD) and fulfillment of daily material demand.
• Systems & Data Management
• Maintain accurate purchasing master data (pricing, info records, etc.) in SAP.
• Execute material resource planning (MRP) functions across various material groups, including raw materials, intermediates, finished goods, and traceability requirements.
• Quality & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with company quality standards (e.g., AS9100).
• Maintain alignment with internal policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Performance Monitoring & Reporting
• Track and report KPIs, daily performance deviations, and root causes to the Supply Chain Manager.
• Develop and maintain reporting tools as needed.
• Issue Resolution
• Address delivery delays and implement corrective actions.
• Process incoming invoices and resolve discrepancies with vendors.
• Facilitate effective communication across internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Continuous Improvement
• Support lean initiatives, including 5S practices.
• Participate in special projects and process improvement efforts as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Proven experience in purchasing/procurement ; manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of purchasing regulations, supplier management, cost analysis, and contract negotiation.
• SAP experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail with strong time management and prioritization abilities.
• Ability to effectively negotiate and resolve conflicts.
• Confident presentation and communication skills.
• Self-motivated with a high degree of accountability and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel as needed to support vendor management.
• Reliable attendance in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations (ADA, FMLA, etc.).