What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Agent position at Packaging Fulfillment Inc.?
About
Packaging Fulfillment Inc., Co. is a family-owned packaging distribution and manufacturing company serving customers from our LaVergne, TN headquarters and Portland location. We're in the midst of building out a stronger operational foundation, including systems, processes, and structure, to support continued growth.
Position Summary
The Purchasing Agent owns the day-to-day procurement of materials and products that keep PFCI's inventory accurate, well-stocked, and cost-effective, working independently rather than as part of a larger procurement team. This role manages purchase orders from creation through receipt in Sage 100, maintains and grows relationships with vendors, and plays a key part in our transition to Netstock for inventory planning and replenishment. This person works closely with vendors, the warehouse team, sales representatives, and senior leadership across both the LaVergne and Portland locations. It's a hands-on, detail-oriented role for someone who's comfortable in an ERP system, willing to learn new tools, and motivated to help modernize how we manage purchasing. This is currently an in-office position based at our LaVergne, TN location; remote or hybrid flexibility is not available at this time.
Why This Role Matters
The Purchasing Agent plays a direct role in keeping PFCI's inventory accurate and available, and in protecting the company's margins through smart vendor management, rebate capture, and cost-conscious purchasing decisions. Every PO placed, every vendor relationship maintained, and every dollar saved through better terms has a real, visible impact on the business.
We're a tight-knit, family-owned company built since the early 1990s, and we're in the middle of building stronger systems, processes, and digital workflows, including a significant upgrade to our inventory planning through Netstock. We're looking for someone who will roll up their sleeves, take initiative, and help shape how purchasing works here. Good ideas are welcome and acted on. For the right person, there's real opportunity to grow alongside the company as our operations continue to mature.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement & Purchase Order Management
• Create, issue, and track purchase orders in Sage 100 based on inventory needs and replenishment recommendations
• Monitor open POs for accuracy, timely delivery, and discrepancies; follow up with vendors on delays or issues
• Own a standing weekly review of open PO aging, proactively reporting stale or at-risk orders to leadership
• Reconcile receiving discrepancies (short shipments, damaged goods, pricing errors) with vendors and the warehouse team, looping in sales representatives when appropriate
Inventory & Planning Support
• Run replenishment recommendation reviews in Netstock and translate them directly into purchase orders
• Use Netstock and Sage 100 data to identify replenishment needs and maintain appropriate stock levels
• Own first-pass stocked vs. non-stocked item classification for new items, with leadership spot-checking
• Maintain day-to-day item setup and data hygiene in Sage 100 (new item setup, cost and vendor updates)
• Flag slow-moving, excess, or at-risk inventory to the leadership team
Vendor Management
• Maintain strong day-to-day relationships with existing vendors; serve as a primary point of contact for order status, pricing, and issue resolution
• Negotiate pricing, freight terms, and lead times where appropriate
• Own first-line resolution of vendor disputes (freight billing errors, quality defects, damaged deliveries), escalating to leadership past an agreed threshold or after repeated issues
• Track vendor performance (on-time delivery, defect rates) and maintain simple vendor scorecards
• Monitor and track vendor rebate, discount, and volume incentive programs to ensure PFCI captures all eligible savings
• Conduct periodic outreach to vendors for pricing review, rather than only renegotiating reactively
• Support vendor onboarding and maintenance of accurate vendor records in Sage 100
Cross-Functional Coordination
• Partner with the warehouse/receiving team to ensure smooth intake of purchased goods
• Communicate purchasing timelines and constraints clearly to sales and operations stakeholders
• Support special projects related to Sage 100, Netstock and purchasing process improvement
Qualifications
Required
• 2 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience (distribution or manufacturing environment preferred)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; comfortable managing multiple open orders simultaneously
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills for vendor and internal correspondence
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel; comfort learning new systems
Preferred
• Experience with Sage 100 or a comparable ERP system
• Experience with inventory planning tools (e.g., Netstock) or similar demand-planning software
• Background in packaging, industrial distribution, or a related industry
• Experience negotiating with vendors on pricing and freight terms
What Success Looks Like in This Role
• Purchase orders are accurate, timely, and require minimal cleanup or correction
• Vendor issues are caught early and resolved efficiently, with minimal disruption to inventory availability
• Inventory data in Sage 100 and Netstock stays clean and reliable
• Vendors view PFCI as an organized, easy-to-work-with partner
PFCI is an equal opportunity employer. This job description reflects the general nature of the work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.