Our New TeammateThe 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 Operations
- 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
- Maintain vendor price lists
- 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
Benefits Included:- Medical Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- FSA Plan
- Paid Time Off
- 401K Retirement Savings Plan
- Training & Tuition Assistance
- Disability & Life Insurance
