Product Specialist

PARR is the single and total source for home building supplies, solutions, and services for professional home builders of large and mid-sized communities and single custom homes, and for motivated homeowners working on home improvement projects. Our customers and community members know they can rely on us to be the total source of home building supplies and solutions with legendary customer service and quality products.

Job title: Product Specialist

Pay: Starting at $22 to $27 an hour, depending on experience

Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am to 5pm

Location: Hillsboro, Oregon

The Product Specialist position maintains an appropriate level of inventory for assigned suppliers and/or product categories for the Company.

The position is responsible for placing purchases with the approval of primary suppliers to ensure the timely flow of product, maximize health by distinguishing slow or dead merchandise, reduce overturning product and recognizing out of stock forecasts to ensure product is on hand to supply our customers.

This role is vital to fulfilling our mission of Legendary Service Through Teamwork because without a high level of accuracy, and prompt turnaround of all purchasing tasks we would not be able to continue to provide the level of service to which we aspire.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• 2 years' of experience in the building industry
• 2 years' of experience with a point-of-sale system
• Must be able to type 30+ WPM
• Class C driver's license
• Ability to speak, write, and read English required

Duties and Responsibilities

Tasks:

• Daily
  • Maintain an appropriate level of inventory for assigned suppliers and/or categories for the Company
  • Review, maintain and distribute system generated purchase orders for assigned suppliers and/or categories
  • Audit purchase orders to insure correct pricing
  • Respond timely to out of stock and backorder notifications for assigned suppliers and/or categories
  • Analyze product outs daily and proactively manage product needs
  • Audits receiving status of purchases, confirms backorders and takes action so to limit product shortfalls
  • Audits empty peg reports and takes appropriate action
  • Effectively utilizes the system to determine product needs
• Weekly
  • Updates schedule in Outlook to reflect current buy patterns
  • Ensures products are accurately assigned in POS system - buyer number, vendor number, buy cycle, etc.
• Monthly
  • Coordinate supplier sponsored events, promotions and tours
  • Evaluates product movement to determine slow moving or dead stock and develops plans of action to limit such stock monthly
  • Analyzes product turnover and health to maximize category revenue goals
  • Seeks new product opportunities
• As Needed
  • Maintain a relationship with assigned suppliers for insight of industry trends and levels of service
  • Coordinate product knowledge meetings for assigned suppliers
  • Assist in product line reviews and supplier negotiations as necessary
  • Coordinate stock buy backs for slow moving, dead or end-of-run merchandise for assigned suppliers and/or categories
  • Monitor and maintain an acceptable turn rate in assigned product categories
  • Complete and submit new item set up sheets
  • Participate in location promotional events
  • Perform other related duties as assigned

Job Knowledge:

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of assigned product categories and/or suppliers to be a resource for team members
• Demonstrates the ability to convert square footage, board footage, lineal footage, and cubic measurements, calculating gross margins and gross profits
• Navigates and utilizes system software purchasing programs
• Has product knowledge of products being purchased
• Effectively utilizes remote communication devices and software
• Utilizes custom purchasing or inventory reports
• Understands product turnover rates and health scores
• Understands product application
• Understands and recognizes current market conditions and adjust purchases as necessary
• Remains current on supplier pricing programs, rebates, and perimeters
• Participates in vendor related sponsored events
• Perform physical inventory functions

This position will rotate between lumber yard locations with a computer. The working environment is fast paced and on team with a variety of personalities. Availability for extended travel is required. The working days are primarily Monday through Friday with some weekends as needed. The work shifts may not be consistent.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to work indoors in a normal office environment for an entire day
• Must be able to grasp, talk, hear, and operate a computer and keyboard
• Must be able to occasionally lift/push/pull up to 50 pounds and carry objects 50 feet
• Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions
• Must be able to drive a vehicle with clean driving record
• Both local and overnight travel may be required

We know that without great people, we can't be a great company. Voted the fourth top place to work in Oregon in 2023, we offer industry-leading benefits:

• Everyone starts earning 2 weeks of vacation per year on day 1, and gains an additional day every year worked up to 4 weeks off
• Employee paid sick days
• 7 holidays
• 2 medical plan options, one with a high deductible that offers an HSA and our standard plan with a very low $1,250 deductible
• Dental, Vision, EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Massage, Chiropractic and Acupuncture coverage
• FSA (Flexible Spending Account) and Childcare pretax spending programs
• HSA (Health Savings Account) - PARR will match up to $360/year
• Up to 50% match on the first 6% you contribute to your 401(k) after 1 year of employment and fully vested at the end of your 3rd year
• In addition to the 401(k) match, there a 3% profit share contribution to the 401(k), with Board approval
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $2,500/year)
• Annual profit sharing (every full time employee who worked the full year earned a minimum of $2,700 for the 2020 year)
• $1,000 referral bonus

PARR Promotes!

We have a transparent pay structure, and love to promote from within. Our current CEO started with the company as a driver and by being open to change and a self-starter he climbed the ranks to the role he has today. There are many members of our management team who started their careers in our entry-level positions. If you're willing to work hard, there's no reason you won't earn regular merit increases and promotions. There is A LOT of opportunity - PARR is growing fast!

We value our employees like family and are constantly working to provide a safe place to work for our employees. Most of our locations are not open past 5 and all our locations are closed on Sundays.

Our company mission is Legendary Service through Teamwork, and we take that seriously. When you join our team, you're joining a family owned company that's been in business for 90 years, with a well-established reputation as a leader within the building material supply industry in the United States.