Purchasing Agent

Purchasing Agent

Our client is seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Purchasing Agent to join their Supply Chain team. This position is responsible for managing inventory levels, coordinating procurement activities, maintaining supplier relationships, and ensuring materials are available to support operational demands. The ideal candidate will have experience in purchasing, inventory management, demand planning, and supplier coordination within a distribution, logistics, or supply chain environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage inventory levels across multiple distribution locations to ensure product availability while minimizing excess inventory.
• Utilize purchasing reports, forecasting tools, and inventory data to determine replenishment needs.
• Optimize purchasing decisions by balancing inventory requirements, freight costs, and supplier minimum order quantities.
• Partner with internal teams to support demand planning initiatives and improve forecast accuracy.
• Monitor inventory levels and proactively address potential shortages to prevent stockouts.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely and accurate delivery of materials.
• Evaluate supplier performance and assist with supplier relationship management activities.
• Communicate with operations teams regarding urgent orders, delivery issues, receiving discrepancies, and damaged goods.
• Analyze inventory performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve inventory turns and overall efficiency.
• Facilitate inventory transfers between locations when necessary to support operational needs.
• Collaborate with Accounts Payable and suppliers to resolve invoice discrepancies and support timely payment processing.
• Monitor open purchase orders, supplier backorders, and shipment delays while communicating updates to stakeholders.
• Recommend alternative products or sourcing solutions when supply challenges arise.
• Support data integrity initiatives by coordinating product and inventory data updates.
• Analyze purchasing trends and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or inventory management.
• Experience within a distribution, logistics, manufacturing, or warehouse environment preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience working with ERP systems.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of supplier management, sourcing strategies, and procurement best practices.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Must successfully pass pre-employment screening requirements, including background and drug screening.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• Primarily office-based work environment with regular communication across multiple departments.

Preferred Experience

• Inventory planning and forecasting.
• Procurement analytics and reporting.
• Supplier relationship management.
• Distribution or supply chain operations.
• Material planning and replenishment processes.