Purchasing Agent
Purchasing Agents support supply chain activities by ordering supplies and materials. They report directly to a Materials Planning Supervisor supporting the efforts to maintain adequate inventory levels of purchased parts and material. The agent also participates in vendor relationship management and identifies cost-saving opportunities to support their company’s profitability goals.
Key Duties:
• Manage vendor relationships based on established KPIs such as performance, quality, pricing, and delivery schedules and ensure the best possible pricing and availability to meet tight organizational demand.
• Track and provide KPI data to Material Analysts and Supervisor/ Manger
• Source new vendors and alternative products to ensure current vendors are providing the best possible service, pricing, quality, and lead-times.
• Quality assurance through our NCR process. Communicate vendor performance based on established KPIs on a regular basis.
• Run MRP suggestions report daily to review and prioritize demand for project components.
• Prepare accurate and complete purchase orders for supplies, materials, and sub-contract services.
• Obtain vendor PO acknowledgements and update GSS purchase orders due dates.
• Regularly expedite current open orders to ensure vendors will meet their promised delivery dates.
• Provide priorities to suppliers during shortage crises.
• Communicate with production, planning / scheduling, project management, sales, and engineering regarding material availability and cost.
• Coordinate with project management and sales for logistic needs of incoming and outgoing freight (LTL, dedicated, Hotshot, etc.).
• Manage vendor Purchase Price Variance ensuring supply cost does not exceed planned production estimates
• Monthly review of vendor forecasts.
• Support accounting with invoicing discrepancies.
• Support Material Analysts in analyzing pricing trends, break point pricing, consumption and order frequency to determine a procurement strategy.
• Work with Material Analysts on quarterly review of the replenishment strategy; Kanban, Re-order Point, MRP.
• Collaborate with Shipping Coordinators on sub-contract purchase orders for outsourced painting and plating services.
• Support warehouse material receivers in resolving discrepancies on PO’s.
• Prepare SAP reports to support warehouse material receivers with Schneider free-issued parts.
Key Responsibilities:
• Maintain detailed records of purchases, including quantities, shipping information, due dates and costs associated with the purchase.
• Maintain productivity of daily tasks and data entry.
• Upholding procurement policies and procedures.
• Ensure sub-contract services processes are functioning efficiently.
Key Qualifications:
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal/human relations skills
• Analytical and creative skills to identify solutions to problems in a real time
• Advanced Excel/Data analysis experience preferred.
• Experience with ERP systems and menu-based software.
