Purchasing Agent

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Procurement and Supplier Management

• Research and identify qualified suppliers, products, and services to support operational requirements.
• Solicit and evaluate supplier quotations, bids, and proposals.
• Analyze supplier offerings based on quality, price, reliability, service, and delivery performance.
• Recommend vendors and products that best meet organizational needs and purchasing objectives.
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with suppliers and service providers.
• Assist in negotiating pricing, delivery schedules, and purchasing terms.

Purchasing Operations

• Review and verify purchase requisitions for accuracy, completeness, and authorization.
• Consult with requestors to clarify specifications, quantities, and purchasing requirements.
• Recommend alternative products, materials, or services when appropriate.
• Create and issue purchase orders and ensure timely processing of procurement requests.
• Monitor open purchase orders and expedite orders to meet operational requirements.
• Track supplier performance and address delivery or quality concerns.

Inventory and Materials Management

• Monitor inventory levels of production supplies and materials to maintain established inventory targets.
• Coordinate purchasing activities to support production schedules and business operations.
• Assist in forecasting material requirements through analysis of historical usage and future demand.
• Collaborate with operations, production, and warehouse personnel to minimize stock shortages and excess inventory.

Receiving and Invoice Support

• Verify receipt of goods by comparing receiving documentation to purchase orders.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies involving quantities, pricing, quality, or damaged shipments.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal departments to resolve receiving and invoicing issues.
• Facilitate payment authorization by ensuring accurate receiving and purchasing documentation is provided to accounting.

Reporting and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate purchasing records, supplier files, and documentation for audit and compliance purposes.
• Analyze purchasing data and supplier performance metrics.
• Provide information and recommendations regarding purchasing trends, forecasting, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance purchasing efficiency and supply chain performance.
• Support achievement of departmental and organizational purchasing goals.

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of purchasing principles, supplier management, and inventory control practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to evaluate vendor proposals and make sound purchasing recommendations.
• Knowledge of procurement processes, contracts, and purchase order systems.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, Operations Management, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of purchasing, procurement, inventory control, or supply chain experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems strongly preferred.