What are the responsibilities and job description for the Procurement Specialist position at Vaco by Highspring?
Position Summary
The Procurement Specialist is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing materials, goods, and services necessary to support business operations. This role partners closely with vendors, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to ensure timely procurement, cost savings, quality standards, and uninterrupted supply chain operations. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and experienced in vendor management and purchasing processes.
Key Responsibilities- Source and procure materials, equipment, supplies, and services in accordance with company policies and budget requirements.
- Obtain quotes, analyze pricing, negotiate contracts, and secure favorable terms with suppliers.
- Create and manage purchase orders while ensuring accurate documentation and approvals.
- Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with operations, manufacturing, and warehouse teams to forecast purchasing needs.
- Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, delivery performance, and cost effectiveness.
- Evaluate supplier performance and identify opportunities for vendor consolidation and cost savings.
- Track orders from placement through delivery and proactively resolve supply chain disruptions.
- Maintain accurate purchasing records, vendor files, contracts, and procurement reports.
- Collaborate with Accounts Payable to resolve invoice discrepancies and facilitate timely payments.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, procurement procedures, and applicable regulations.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to streamline procurement processes and improve efficiency.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Finance, or a related field preferred.
- 2 years of procurement, purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain experience.
- Experience negotiating contracts, pricing agreements, and supplier terms.
- Proficiency with ERP systems, purchasing software, and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication and relationship management abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Manufacturing, distribution, or industrial procurement experience.
- APICS, CPSM, CPM, or other procurement/supply chain certifications.
- Experience with SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics, or similar ERP platforms.
- Knowledge of inventory management and supply planning.
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com.
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
- Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
- Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
- Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.