PURCHASING ASSISTANT

Objective

The incumbent assists in with purchasing activities regarding materials, products, and services.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs buying duties when necessary
• Prepares purchase orders and send copies to suppliers and to departments originating requests
• Compares suppliers' bills with bids and purchase orders to verify accuracy
• Prepares, maintains, and reviews purchasing files, reports and price lists
• ERP System
• May check shipments when they arrive to ensure that orders have been filled correctly and that goods meet specifications
• Assists in comparing prices, specifications, and delivery dates to determine the best bid among potential suppliers
• Reviews orders to verify accuracy, terminology, and specifications
• Determines if inventory quantities are sufficient for needs, ordering more materials when necessary
• Maintains knowledge of organizational rules affecting purchases
• Contacts suppliers to schedule or expedite deliveries and to resolve shortages, missed or late deliveries, and other problems
• Tracks the status of requisitions, contracts, and orders
• Responds to customer and supplier inquiries about order status, changes, or cancellations
• Locates suppliers, using sources such as catalogs and the internet, and interview them to gather information about products to be ordered
• Maintains company’s Kanban system

Education and Competencies

• Associate's degree in a related field strongly desired; or additional industry experience equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of industry experience required
• ERP experience preferred
• Understanding of company practices and policies
• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, and costs
• Strong sense of business acumen
• Experience managing confidential or proprietary information required
• Effective written and oral communication skills

Supervisory responsibilities

• This position does not include supervisory responsibilities

Physical demands

This position is located mostly in an office environment, with exposure to:

• Extended periods of sitting or standing.
• Extended and continuous use of office equipment including computer, copier, fax machine and telephone
• Intermittent periods of reaching, stooping and kneeling
• Noise levels consistent with a busy office