Procurement Specialist

The Senior Purchasing Specialist is a strategic procurement professional responsible for managing complex vendor relationships, optimizing procurement processes, and ensuring accurate financial reporting for purchasing activities. This role combines tactical execution with analytical problem-solving, vendor negotiation, and mentorship of junior procurement staff. You can expect to spend your time accomplishing the following: 70% of the time on Objective 1: Strategic Procurement Operation 10% of the time on Objective 2: Financial Management & Reporting 10% of the time on Objective 3: Continuous Improvement 5% of the time on Objective 4: Vendor Relationship Management 5% of the time on Objective 5: Systems Management & Data Integrity Job Responsibilities – What to Expect Prepare and issue purchase orders to vendors based on approved requisitions Verify PO accuracy including pricing, quantities, specifications, ship-to addresses, and GL coding Obtain required approvals following established approval hierarchies before PO release Communicate order confirmations and delivery expectations to internal stakeholders Process PO changes including revisions, cancellations, and expedite requests Maintain organized documentation of all PO correspondence and confirmations Manage expedited and emergency procurements requiring creative problem-solving Assess sourcing of materials for improved delivery (stock vs fulfillment source) Implement process improvements to reduce PO cycle time and increase efficiency Align delivery (JIT) schedules with delivery schedules (working with PMs to align shipments with project delivery Create and analyze open PO accrual report for monthly financial close, ensuring accuracy and completeness Partner with accounting team on period-end activities, cut-off procedures, and audit support (physical inventory counts, etc.) Support physical inventory reconciliation process to resolve discrepancies Lead process improvement initiatives to streamline procurement operations Document standard operating procedures for purchasing activities Represent procurement in cross-functional project teams Conduct vendor performance reviews and manage escalations for service failures Build strategic relationships with key suppliers to ensure priority treatment and favorable pricing and terms Resolve complex vendor disputes involving quality, delivery, or billing issues Maintain SOAR process documentation as it relates to purchasing Maintain item master data quality including specifications, preferred vendors, and standard costs Lead data cleanup projects to improve system accuracy and usability (item master clean up, updates, open POs, etc.) Your Knowledge & Expertise 5 years of work experience in a Purchasing function working with purchase orders, receiving, vendors, and customers is required High school diploma or equivalent. An associate's degree is preferred General accounting and finance knowledge Experience using Microsoft Excel and a computerized purchasing system is preferred Ability to work in and manage a multi-task environment Effective written and verbal communication skills #J-18808-Ljbffr