Right Weigh, Inc. (United States) - The Purchasing Agent will purchase goods and services according to departmental and organizational policies and procedures. They are responsible for working with management and cross functional teams to maintain appropriate inventory levels, stay up to date on any product revisions and changes, work to keep costs low by negotiating prices and finding multiple different available vendors, and work with the warehouse division to plan work orders depending on current inventory levels. They will also be responsible for finding opportunities to streamline processes to maximize productivity and costs. They will work with the sales department to plan for future material requirements based on new sales forecasts; help produce landed costs of products and assist in setting price points based on any predicted cost changes. They will be required to maintain a professional business relationship with vendors, manufacturers, delivery coordinators, and other personnel involved in the purchasing and manufacturing process.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with other departments and stakeholders to identify and maintain resources needed to establish and provide an effective supply chain.
• Maintains required quantity of supplies and materials to optimize production and costs.
• Prepare purchase orders and request for quotes (RFQ’s)
• Negotiates prices for raw material and delivery with suppliers, vendors, and/or shipping companies.
• Manage production schedules to ensure 100% on-time delivery of customer orders.
• Approves invoices for payment.
• Ensures that purchasing documents are complete and accurate, with appropriate and reasonable terms and conditions.
• Perform regular evaluations of current inventory levels of non-inventory products.
• Monitors the performance of suppliers, assessing their ability to meet quality and delivery requirements; identifies and qualifies new suppliers in collaboration with other departments.
• Discuss defective or unacceptable goods or services with inspection or quality control personnel, users, vendors, and others to determine source of trouble and take corrective action.
• Evaluates vendors based on price, reliability, capability, and previous transaction history.
• Utilize MRP/ERP systems and processes in a manufacturing environment.
• Establish contingency plans and anticipate disruptions in the overall flow of goods to maintain productivity.
• Work with the Engineering Team to stay up to date on any part revisions and/or updates that may occur.
• Work with Warehouse Manager to plan assembly builds and stay up to date on current inventory levels.
• Participates as an advisory member of the product development team, providing information and guidance on availability and cost of supplies and materials.
• Aide with production and assembly as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or similar.
• At least two years of purchasing experience required.
• 2+ years of production experience is a bonus.
• Basic algebra/calculation skills to determine appropriate inventory levels and complete cost analysis. This includes the ability to convert foreign currency amounts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proven strong negotiation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong time management and ability to meet deadlines when required.
• Ability to work individually and in a team.
• Thorough understanding of purchasing procedures and policies.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite including Word and Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.