Buyer - PCC

Working under minimal supervision of the Supervisor, Manager, Sr. Manager, Director, or Sr Director, Purchasing referring only exceptional problems for management review or approval, the Buyer facilitates and processes purchasing transactions. Buyers work closely with Sales to manage customer orders and coordinate rollouts while negotiating with various suppliers for the most favorable terms and conditions (i.e. quality, inventory and delivery). Utilizing independent judgment and discretion, the Buyer authorizes purchase order placement with the approved supplier. The Buyer ensures the purchase orders are placed in conformance with purchasing policies and procedures and acquires products and services from OEM manufacturers or OEM authorized Distribution partners. Utilizing the internal case management tool, the Buyer resolves issues with and maintains compliance with customer specific contract requirements throughout the lifecycle of the purchase order. The Buyer creates and maintains product SKUs. The Buyer works with internal contracts and legal teams to onboard new vendors and serves as a subject matter expert on assigned departmental projects.

• Utilizes best practices when purchasing goods and services to optimize the overall cost of goods by driving cost out of the order fulfillment process. Procures product at aggressive pricing through multiple sources by reviewing orders, determining contract requirements and special instructions and selecting the best supplier with the most favorable terms considering cost, delivery, holding inventory, and integration.
• Creates SKUs for sales order processing, taking into consideration vendor and customer contract supply chain requirements. Determines the best method to fulfill the orders by stocking, drop shipping, or hybrid of both. 
• Prepares bids; selects bid list for proposals in compliance with contracts and purchasing specifications. Analyzes bids to determine overall cost of goods sold.
• Prepares purchase orders by auditing sales orders in accordance with state local, educational and federal regulations. Places purchase orders in accordance with company policy.
• Manages daily backorder and backlog by tracking virtual and/or drop ship inventory to support sales activity. Expedites Purchase Orders by working with both suppliers and vendors to coordinate efforts and update ETAs.
• Analyzes and resolves various post shipment problems by working with the supplier and vendor to solve the problem on future orders.
• Negotiates concessions with supplier for service level failures.
• Provides information to Finance to support quarterly Revenue Recognition by identifying in transit product, strategically coordinating purchase order placement and delivery requirements with various departments and suppliers.
• Negotiates and obtains return authorizations and credits from our suppliers and vendors for customer returns.
• Investigates potential vendors/suppliers to ensure that they are suitable or require purchasing contracts based on past and current purchases for future purchase orders and recommends these vendors/suppliers to management.
• Maintains and provides timely resolutions to problems utilizing the internal case management tool. Responses are expected to be clear, concise and complete.
• Effectively communicates with all departments to resolve problems or provide services both internally and externally. 
• Works with Accounts Payable and Suppliers to resolve discrepancies between purchase orders and invoices.
• Processes, analyzes, and provides recommendations from daily and weekly reports for Purchasing and Sales management team.
• Develops new programs and procedures by receiving feedback from Sales and Marketing meetings in order to improve sales process.
• Initiates and negotiates supplier and vendor purchasing agreements.
• Works with vendors to improve supply chain efficiency.
• Utilizes various on-line supplier and vendor systems to determine accurate ETAs for purchase order management.
• Facilitates meetings with vendors and suppliers to report and address operations issues relative to Government orders, recommends changes in business practices and addresses open issues.

• Intermediate working knowledge of Microsoft Office with ability to create and manage spreadsheets, prepare Word documents and develop presentations.
• Working knowledge purchasing and supply chain management with ability to understand the lifecycle of a purchase order.
• Excellent negotiation skills with ability to procure product to the company's best advantage.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with ability to think through impact on all departments related to purchase order requirements.
• Working knowledge of Government and Educational contracts with ability to understand government entities.
• Basic knowledge of international logistics to understand feasibility of imports and exports.
• Excellent organizational skills with ability to multitask.
• Ability to work well with Sales, Marketing, Distribution, and Finance management teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal relationship experience with ability to network and seek out available resources internally and externally for answers to questions or problem escalations.

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