Purchasing Specialist

Purchasing Specialist

About Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF) is a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless since 1998. Founded in Austin, Texas, the organization serves its homeless neighbors through three core programs: Truck Ministry, Community First! Village, and Community Works. Often referred to as the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. We are now embarking on a new phase of community expansion, adding more than 1400 new neighbors over the next 5-10 years.

About the Role

The Purchasing Specialist is an integral part of the Site Operations Team. The Purchasing Specialist will act as the lead for the Community First! Village Burleson Operations Building and lead Purchasing & Logistics operations at that Site. The Purchasing Specialist will work with various MLF teams to complete and maintain purchase orders for raw goods, materials, and supplies as well the delivery coordination for both MLF and external contractors.

This is a full-time hourly non-exempt position reporting to the Purchasing & Logistics Manager. Due to the nature and requirements of the position, hours are flexible to fit needs but typically include 8am-5pm Monday-Friday. Some nights and weekends may be required. The Purchasing Specialist will office at Community First! Village Burleson located at 710 Dignity Circle, Austin, TX 78744.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Site Lead for Burleson Site Operations Building as well as Purchasing & Logistics operations at the BUR location.
• Coordinate with Site Operations teams to maintain inventory levels and identify purchasing needs
• Coordinates with Purchasing & Logistics Manager on evaluating vendors and suppliers based on price, reliability and capability
• Maintain the organization and operations of the Burleson Warehouse and other storage areas including inventory, tools and consumable supplies
• Oversee various vehicles and equipment such as telehandler, forklift, carts that are in service on the site
• Purchase goods and services according to policies and procedures in support of various MLF teams and projects
• Utilizes and maintains the Inventory Management System in support of various MLF teams operational needs
• Frequent travel in the Austin area to meet with vendors and personnel to procure and deliver supplies as necessary
• Ensures accuracy, timeliness, and condition of deliveries , r eceives and coordinates deliveries of supplies and equipment ordered
• Communicate and coordinate with Site Operations Teams regarding delivery schedules
• Maintain clean vehicles and work areas
• Manage inventory of supplies and equipment for various MLF teams
• Maintains pricing histories and other vendor records
• Submit receipts timely and accurately according to established procedures
• Compliance with Health & Safety initiatives
• Other Duties & Responsibilities as needed

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities & Principles

• MLF is a faith-based organization whose ideals and philosophy come directly from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As an organization, we strive to reflect this precept in our communications, both internally and externally.
• Commitment to serving those who have experienced homelessness and personal alignment with MLF's vision, mission, core values, and goals.
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Minimum 3-4 years equivalent work experience preferred
• Prior experience managing materials and inventory preferred
• Experience reading and interpreting construction plans preferred
• Prior experience on telehandler or forklift a plus
• Courteous driving skills and a clean driving record preferred
• Ability to read tape measure and use basic hand and power tools
• Working knowledge of commonly used construction materials and supplies, including electrical, plumbing and lumber
• Ability to clearly communicate and update across various departments
• Strong communication skills required
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office preferred
• Self-starter who takes a proactive approach to work
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Must have a valid driver's license

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Ability to frequently lift and move up to 80lbs.
• Ability to move around all phases of the property.
• Ability to work in all weather conditions.
• Able to be offsite roughly 50% of workday. Company vehicle provided.

Benefits

• Day one 100% Employer paid, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD & LTD Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off & Holiday Pay
• Matching 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Corporate Discount Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Partnership Benefits

MLF VISION

We empower communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless.

MLF MISSION

We provide food and clothing, cultivate community, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

GOALS

• Transform the way people view the stereotype of those who find themselves homeless
• Reconnect the homeless to self, family and community
• Help the chronically homeless rediscover and utilize their God-given talents to do purposeful work
• Connect human to human, heart to heart through the fellowship of food and hospitality
• Inspire people into a lifestyle of abundance by giving their best first

BELIEF STATEMENTS

The vision is supported by belief statements centered on our belief that homelessness is the result of a profound, catastrophic loss of family:

• God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life
• By virtue of being created by God in His image, we are all called to live in community and relationship with Him through each other
• The family is the original cell of social life
• You shall love your neighbor as yourself
• All members of the human family are equal in dignity
• The Lord God took the man and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it. Gen 2:15

CORE VALUES

MLF is committed to fostering a culture that prioritizes relational connection. We believe there is opportunity in every aspect of our work to be relational in a highly transactional world. In this culture, transactions are means to relational ends, not the other way around.​

​​This begins with the countercultural love poured out by Jesus Christ and grows as imperfect individuals strive to show this love to each other human-to-human, heart-to-heart.​

​​Each individual's openness to the journey of their own personal growth is essential in building our relational culture, and we believe this culture flourishes as we each continuously strive to more fully embody these four core values:

• Faith: We define Faith as the foundational belief that our world and all our work belong to God. This allows us to engage our work with joy and lightheartedness, knowing that we are not ultimately in control.
• Humility: We define Humility as rightly viewing oneself as a single piece of a grander story. This humility leads to a view of oneself that is neither too high nor too low.
• Generous Spirit: We define a Generous Spirit as a readiness to give more grace, mercy, and hospitality than is necessary or expected. This posture allows us to see others for who they are, not what they do.
• Integrity: We define Integrity as a wholehearted commitment to doing right by God, ourselves, and others. This wholeheartedness shows itself in consistently choosing honesty, responsibility and ownership in all actions and decisions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

MLF is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Personnel are chosen based on ability without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in accordance with federal and state law.