What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Support Specialist - HOU position at Columbia Safety and Supply?
Department: Purchasing
Location: Houston, TX
Columbia Safety & Supply keeps America's workers both safe and productive on the job. Founded in 2005, we are North America's premier outfitter of fall protection, safety equipment, and gear for at-height workers, industry, and construction. We exceed our customer's expectations, provide unmatched customer service and prompt delivery, and strive for continued innovation. Columbia Safety, named as an INC Magazine Best Workplace, is a fast-growth company headquartered in Columbia, MO with five locations nationwide.
Columbia Safety is looking for a Purchasing Support Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate possesses excellent judgment, a willingness to learn, strong interpersonal skills, a quality work ethic, and a knack for problem-solving that leads to innovative solutions that drive continued growth and sustained profitability.
As a Purchasing Support Specialist on our team, you will be trained to work with our in-house software systems and the Purchasing team to make purchasing decisions that align with our goals. This position uses the lenses of planning, strategy, process, and execution to deliver timely, quality work. You will represent these functions in collaboration across the entire business including our Business Development, Finance, Operations, and Customer Service teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Follow up on purchase orders to ensure vendor acknowledgment and ship dates
- Work with vendors to report and correct shipping discrepancies
- Manage pricing updates by compiling and uploading new data
- Identify and share opportunities to streamline processes and eliminate waste
- Monitor incoming and outgoing communications
- Provide colleagues with status updates
- Follow up on ongoing projects
- Monitor open purchase orders for past-due materials
- Assist Sales and Customer Service Departments with projects
- Track metrics and provide reports
- Provide feedback to help navigate ongoing projects
- Take on self-managed projects
- Previous experience in a purchasing department or other related fields a plus
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Sense of urgency
Columbia Safety features a stable and enjoyable work environment with a continually replicated upward growth pattern over the past 11 years.
As an organization, we live out our values every day and offer excellent benefits to our employees, including:
- Competitive salary with endless potential to grow in the organization
- Volunteer Paid Time off for contributing time and talent to 501c3 groups
- Philanthropic efforts via our Columbia Foundation include 100% match to charitable giving
- 401k with company match
- Health, ancillary and life insurance options
- Paid vacation with tenure-based increases
- Fresh food fridge with free snacks and an onsite gym
- Are strategically flexible and comfortable in our ever-changing, fast-paced environment
- Convey a can-do, positive attitude towards tackling problems
- Work hard and value self awareness, empathy, honesty and positivity
- Enjoy challenging projects, and have fun with our co-workers, who feel like our family
- Have a passion for delivering an unmatched experience to our clients, colleagues and business partners
This job description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
#ZR