Purchasing Agent

Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, the Purchasing Agent is a key liaison between external suppliers and internal departments. This role demands high mathematical accuracy and analytical precision to support procurement decisions, cost evaluations, and inventory control. The ideal candidate will possess a strong aptitude for numbers, pricing analysis, and data-driven decision-making. They will negotiate optimal purchasing terms and ensure procurement activities meet production schedules and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyze price proposals, supplier quotes, and cost structures to determine fair and accurate pricing.
• Evaluate supplier performance based on cost, quality, lead time, and compliance to standards.
• Use mathematical models to forecast inventory needs based on production demands and usage trends.
• Negotiate pricing, volume discounts, and delivery terms to reduce total cost of ownership.
• Audit vendor invoices against purchase orders and receipts for mathematical accuracy.
• Create and maintain precise purchase orders with defined material specifications and cost parameters.
• Maintain and update vendor master data, including pricing tiers, MOQ, lead times, and cost structures.
• Conduct regular variance analysis to compare actual spend vs. budget and identify discrepancies.
• Review production work orders for material allocations and ensure correct inventory valuation.
• Monitor and analyze inventory turnover, usage rates, and reorder points to minimize waste and overstocking.
• Track and report KPIs related to cost savings, supplier reliability, and procurement accuracy.
• Utilize ERP (Axapta) systems to manage item setups including material yield, mil thickness, supplier codes, and order configurations.
• Partner with production and quality teams to evaluate defective products and resolve quality issues.

Qualifications:

• Associate or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Prior purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment is required.
• Strong analytical and mathematical skills with attention to numerical accuracy.
• Proficiency with Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, formulas) and ERP systems (preferably Axapta).
• Ability to evaluate and interpret data trends, cost models, and usage patterns.
• Demonstrated experience working in deadline-driven, cross-functional environments.

Essential Competencies:

• Advanced math skills for cost comparison, unit conversions, material yield calculations, and pricing analysis.
• Ability to set precise standards for raw material specifications based on production needs.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills involving multiple variables and constraints.
• Ability to comprehend technical product details and supplier specifications.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on reducing errors in purchasing records and inventory tracking.
• Strong communication skills to convey numeric data and procurement decisions to stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities under pressure.