Purchasing/Operations Assistant

Job Responsibilities:

• Direct negotiations with key vendors.
• Direct problem-solving negotiations with all vendors.
• Negotiate special buys and mitigate price increases and/or place buys against price increases to maximize return on investment.
• Oversee expediting and follow up of purchase orders to minimize backorders and lead times.
• Competitive analysis and search for alternative lower cost sources to existing product line.
• Find new suppliers
• Obtain samples and price quotes
• Negotiation of lower costs for current products from existing vendors
• Develop ongoing programs to identify new product additions and improvements.
• Source, analysis, cost negotiation and addition of new products.
• Manage all aspects of product importing including vendor relations.
• Direct negotiations with importation vendors.
• Follow-up as needed to assure timely delivery
• Interact with customs, brokers, and inspectors as necessary
• Freight bill reconciliations
• Approval of supplier invoices
• Prepare/submit Purchase Orders

Job Details:

• Payrate: $35-$42/hr. (DOE)
• DIRECT HIRE OPPORTUNITY – including comprehensive benefits package
• Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm (Monday thru Friday)
• Full-time in-office role (100% onsite)
• Must be fully vaccinated and a non-smoker
• Commute needs to be reasonable

Candidate Requirements:

• Demonstrable successful experience of 3-5+ years in a Purchasing/Importing role for a small/medium company ($10M to $50M), or a smaller division of a larger organization including considerable successful experience negotiating all aspects of vendor relations.
• Longevity in previous roles – at least 3-years minimum in each role/company
• Strong functional experience in the areas of purchasing and inventory control.
• Exceptional skills in cost control and margin enhancement.
• Experience with product pricing and costing.
• Able to quickly analyze reports/data to make buying decisions/recommendations
• Advanced MS Excel skills
• People skills with an emphasis on communications, planning, accountability, leadership, and coaching.
• Customer focus as it relates to listening, servicing, supporting, and satisfying customer requirements.
• Detail oriented with the capability of managing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong negotiating skills
• Rigorous follow-through and proven ability to hold suppliers accountable
• Ability to think and pivot quickly when thrown a curve ball
• A passion for learning and for asking questions when in doubt about how to proceed.
• A balanced ego, with enough self-confidence to speak up, ask questions, drive results; but humble enough to enjoy giving credit, transferring knowledge, and developing others.
• Intense focus on goals, deadlines, and results.
• Ability to work independently to solve problems

#INDHP