Description
General Summary
Under the supervision of the Director of Corporate Procurement & Customer Service, performs procurement and contracting support activities. Buyers are required to follow organizational policies, provide strong customer support, review departmental requests to purchase, ensure competitive pricing, and issue purchase orders in a timely manner.
Principal Responsibilities and Tasks
The following statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties.
Provide exemplary customer service support for purchasing and supply chain needs by being responsive and customer-focused.
Review purchase requisitions for appropriateness and issue purchase orders according to requested due dates.
Communicate effectively with internal customers and vendors to minimize supply chain disruptions.
Contact vendors/suppliers to verify pricing, product or service availability, unit of measure, and delivery dates.
Resolve discrepant invoice issues in collaboration with Accounts Payable, Receiving, Contracting, requesting departments, and vendors.
Communicate with vendors and end users to obtain purchase order confirmations, proof of deliveries, and quotes.
Update vendor and item records as necessary when information, pricing, unit of measure, or products change.
Review and close open purchase orders or order lines that will not be delivered.
Process change orders for end users in line with departmental guidelines.
Handle expedited and emergency orders per user requests and departmental policy.
Communicate backorder, substitution, or delivery changes to end users in a timely manner to minimize operational disruptions.
Monitor customer service inbox and voicemail to provide timely support.
Assist departments with identifying alternative products or goods when required.
Provide training to internal customers on ERP and related systems as needed.
Manage “Draft” purchase orders to ensure they are cleared within five business days.
Work with procurement organizations (e.g., GHX, Vizient, Premier) to ensure best pricing and benchmarking standards.
Assist departments with vendor returns as necessary.
Support assigned commodity teams as needed.
Requirements
Qualifications
Education & Experience
High school diploma or GED required; associate degree in business preferred.
At least one year of experience in purchasing, including working with purchase orders, accounts payable, receiving, vendors, and customers.
Experience/knowledge of bid and pricing solicitation practices preferred.
Experience reviewing contracts preferred.
Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and computerized purchasing systems preferred.
Experience with Infor/Lawson required.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Ability to gather information on products and vendors, responding to requests accurately and efficiently.
Ability to conduct cost-benefit comparisons and analysis to determine true cost of goods and services.
Strong problem-solving skills to resolve issues related to purchase orders or supply chain activities in a professional, timely manner.
Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
