Benefits

U.S.-based employees have access to medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company contribution, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S.-based employees also receive, per calendar year, up to 6 scheduled paid holidays. Additionally, eligible hourly/non-exempt and exempt employees accrue up to 112 hours of PTO based on years of service and may annually take up to 8 hours of paid volunteer time. Additional paid sick leave is also provided if required by state or local law.

Summary of Position:

The Purchaser Lead is responsible for ordering, managing, and reviewing purchase orders and vendor invoices. The Lead is responsible for the purchasing activities and works closely with sales, warehouse operations, and branch customer service to meet the needs of customers. As well as negotiates vendor terms, prices, and schedules delivery using knowledge of budget and schedule requirements. The Lead will perform strategic procurement activities across multiple categories of spend, search for better deals, and find more profitable suppliers.

Essential Functions:

• Act as the primary point of contact for vendors and suppliers
• Manage relationships, resolve shortages, returned material, rejections, and losses
• Review supplier contracts and proposals for the price, schedule, and overall quality
• Responsible for the negotiation of all contract pricing to derive the best cost margins
• Develop, lead and execute purchasing strategies
• Track and report key functional metrics to reduce expenses and improve the effectiveness
• Craft negotiation strategies and close deals with optimal terms
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure clear requirements documentation
• Forecast price and market trends to identify changes of balance in buyer-supplier power
• Perform cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking
• Assess, manage and mitigate risks
• Seek and partner with reliable vendors and suppliers
• Determine the quality and timing of deliveries
• Act as a subject matter expert and team escalation point
• Manages a purchasing team and responsible for conducting peer mentoring and training
• Develop training material and purchasing documentation
• Monitor and forecast upcoming levels of demand
• Verifies purchase requisitions by comparing items requested to master list; clarifying unclear items; recommending alternatives as well as confirming delivery dates
• Accurately place orders and maintain necessary contact with suppliers
• Sourcing quality materials
• Manage and coordinate pricing, merchandising, and special requests
• Forwards available inventory items by verifying stock; scheduling delivery
• Prepares purchase orders by verifying specifications and price; obtaining recommendations from suppliers for substitute items; obtaining approval from requisitioning department
• Obtains purchased items by forwarding orders to suppliers; monitoring and expediting orders
• Verifies receipt of items by comparing items received to items ordered; resolves shipments in error with suppliers
• Authorizes payment for purchases by forwarding receiving documentation
• Monitor any outstanding Purchase Orders
• Accomplishes purchasing and organization mission by completing related results as needed
• Manage replenishment of existing stock items
• Monitor and track customer orders received
• Identify, monitor, and resolve potential problematic customer issues including service failures, DFRs, and costing issues
• Research service failures by reviewing the invoice and order history on the systems
• Adheres to purchasing policies, processes, and procedures
• Carries out warehouse and inventory control policies and procedures
• Uses knowledge of material work planning and methods engineering processes and procedures to coordinate product delivery based on a specific budget and schedule requirements

Competencies:

1. Ensures Accountability
2. Tech Savvy
3. Communicates Effectively
4. Values Differences
5. Customer Focus
6. Resourcefulness
7. Drives Results
8. Plans and Prioritizes
9. Decision Quality
10. Self-Development

Work Environment:

This position is based in a professional office setting and regularly utilizes workplace technology, including computers, smartphones, multi-function printers, cloud-based filing systems, and collaboration tools.

Physical Demands:

This role requires physical capabilities that support the successful execution of key responsibilities. The employee regularly engages in verbal and written communication with colleagues and clients to address project-related inquiries and must be able to convey accurate information clearly and efficiently. The position involves remaining seated at a workstation for approximately 75% of the time, with occasional movement throughout the office to access equipment, supplies, and shared resources. Daily tasks include consistent use of computers and standard office technology such as keyboards, printers, and multifunction devices. The role also involves transporting equipment boxes weighing up to 25 pounds within the building and to other offsite locations as needed for project support.

Required Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma Required
• 5+ years of experience

Qualifications:

• Strong communications skills
• Extreme attention to detail
• Strong expertise with accounting software (expertise with Sage Mas, strongly preferred), experience with MS Word, and MS Outlook
• The role is fast-paced and time-sensitive for deliverables
• 5+ years of purchasing experience in a technical environment
• Working knowledge of tools, processes, and practices for purchasing goods and services via electronic methods to vendors
• Organization and planning skills required to execute multiple projects simultaneously while adapting to changes in business requirements in a fast-paced environment

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.