Purchasing Specialist

Position Title: Purchasing Specialist

Reports To:Director of Purchasing

Organization/Department:Corporate / Purchasing & Procurement

Location: Latham/TBD

Last Revision Date:1/31/2022

Classification: Hourly or Exempt | full-time

Primary Role: The purchasing specialist has responsibility for placing the majority of the purchase orders, supporting the credit card transactional process, managing the request queue, communicating delivery tracking, forwarding on requests and information to requisitioners, escalating needs to commodity owner as needed and assisting in addressing quality and material return issues. This role will also support compliant MRO purchasing and support the local plant purchasing process.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Prepares and issues purchase orders for entire organization and all functions.

2. May be asked to assist in development and documentation of systems and procedures.

3. Coordinates with internal teams from various departments such as manufacturing, quality, accounts payable, finance and others to respond to vendor issues, supply problems, etc..and involve the appropriate procurement team member for escalations.

4. Support Procurement organization with item purchase price database updating costs to ensure correct purchase pricing is loaded for Buyer/Planners and requisitioners.

5. With support from Commodity Managers uses a request for quotation process to evaluate vendor/supplier quotations which utilizes appropriate negotiation and purchasing techniques to ensure quality, price, delivery, and service.

6. Reviews purchase orders for conformance to company policy

7. Assists Buyers/Requisitioners to authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise as necessary

8. Organizes environmental compliance information

9. Various reporting on purchasing related activities such as cost savings, rebates, vendor evaluations, inflation/deflation, quality, etc…

10. Ensure compliance with Latham policies, along with local and federal applicable laws

11. Perform basic purchasing activities such as quotations, auctions, manage corporate website accounts ( i.e. MRO accounts), manage items and purchasing pricing approver supplier lists, etc…

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience preferred, Purchasing certification through recognized organizations (i.e. CPSM, CIP, CPP, SCMP) preferred

• Zero to Three years' purchasing experience with degree, or AS with 5-10 years.

• Experience with ERP system(s)

• Experience with order placement and/or data entry highly preferred

• Industry experience in a high volume, multiple location company preferred.

• Possess skills in verbal negotiations a benefit

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; organized, analytical and detail oriented

• Computer skills; Microsoft Excel/Access/Power Point

• Able to make sound decisions while working with changing priorities and competing demands

• Minimal travel required may be required