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.).