Purchasing Agent

FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Alternate Job Titles: Purchasing Clerk, Procurement Clerk

Job Summary

Compiles information, records, and quotations to prepare purchase orders for procurement of material, machinery, equipment, tools, parts, and services; maintains recommended inventory levels; and establishes replenishment needs by performing the following duties personally.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Verifies nomenclature and specifications of purchase requests.
• Review authorized requisitions and inventory reports in order to determine what and when to purchase.
• Contact and interview vendors to obtain information regarding a product, including but not limited to price, ability of vendor to produce, service, delivery date and technical data.
• May visit and evaluate a vendor plant to ascertain the quality control of products, the capability to produce products, and the ability to meet delivery commitments.
• Follow up on purchases when necessary to ensure deliveries in conformance with delivery dates.
• Discuss defects of purchased goods with vendors, or refer to Purchasing Manager for corrective action.
• Initiate the destruction of raw material and stock inventories when necessary.
• Investigate, research, evaluate and recommend cost reduction methods relative to purchased goods or services.
• Searches inventory records or warehouse to determine if material on hand is in sufficient quantity.
• Prepares purchase order and sends copy to supplier and department originating request.
• Compiles records of items purchased or transferred between departments, prices, deliveries, and inventories. Computes total cost of items purchased.
• Confers with suppliers concerning late deliveries.
• Compares prices, specifications, and delivery dates and places orders with suppliers.
• Verifies bills from suppliers.
• Maintains cleanliness of work area and equipment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities. Carries out conduct and leadership responsibilities in accordance with company policies, procedures, safety, and applicable laws.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence , and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, toxic chemicals, and heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some local independent travel is required.