What are the responsibilities and job description for the Buyer position at Etna Shared Services?
Join the team that has been powering growth and an excellent reputation for over 60 years!
Etna Supply is an industry leader in plumbing, heating, underground, municipal, and fire protection wholesale distribution throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. We are committed to sound financial principles, building partnerships that foster teamwork, and striving for continuous improvement. We are dedicated to fairness, integrity, and respect.
What We Offer:
- Competitive compensation and benefits package, including a yearly bonus!
- 5 different lines of business and 2 subsidiaries that provide company stability through diversification.
- Professional development opportunities to support your growth.
- A collaborative and inclusive work environment that values your contributions.
- The fun challenge of working in a fast-paced, multi-location, diverse business function environment.
Are you detail-driven and great at keeping things moving?
As a Buyer, you’ll be responsible for purchasing the materials our team relies on, making sure orders are accurate, timely, and cost-effective while maintaining the quality our customers expect.
In this role, you’ll work closely with established vendors and partner with multiple internal teams across the business to keep operations running smoothly. You’ll manage orders, track availability, and ensure products arrive when they’re needed while helping maintain strong supplier relationships.
If you enjoy staying organized, solving problems on the fly, and interacting with a variety of teams across the organization, this is a great opportunity to make an impact.
Typical Responsibilities
These include the following and other duties may be assigned:
- Deliver a positive experience by supporting internal and external customers with accurate, timely purchasing support
- Build and maintain strong vendor relationships through phone, email, and in-person communication
- Provide accurate product, pricing, and send information to internal teams as needed
- Place and manage purchase orders for stock and non-stock items, including updates and revisions
- Communicate with vendors on pricing, quantities, delivery timelines, returns, and promotions
- Coordinate quotes and bids to support purchasing decisions
- Ensure materials are ordered at the best overall value by considering total cost factors such as price, freight, lead time, and terms
- Stay informed on supplier programs and market conditions that may impact purchasing decisions
- Collaborate with warehouse, sales, customer service, and other internal teams to resolve inventory and purchasing issues
- Monitor and manage excess and non-stock inventory, including transfers between locations and vendor returns
- Support the disposition of obsolete inventory in collaboration with inventory control, sales, and finance
- Maintain accurate and consistent items and vendor data within the ERP system
- Utilize systems and tools to improve efficiency and streamline purchasing processes
- Support continuous improvement efforts by identifying opportunities to reduce waste and improve workflows
- Complete special projects and additional duties as assigned
- Follow all safety guidelines and maintain regular, reliable attendance
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on customer service and vendor relationships
- Working knowledge of products and their applications (or the ability to quickly learn)
- Solid problem-solving and analytical skills with strong attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience working within an ERP system
- Basic math skills, including the ability to calculate pricing, margins, and discounts accurately
Education and/or Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred
- OR 3–5 years of experience in wholesale distribution or a similar environment
- OR an equivalent combination of education and hands-on experienc
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
- Frequently required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers.
- Regularly required to walk, stand, and reach.
- Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, and lift or move up to 25 pounds.
- Must be able to perform job duties in a consistent state of alertness and work safely.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision at 20 inches or less.
- Work is performed primarily in an office environment.
- Noise level is typically moderate.
- Must pass a substance abuse screening.