Purchasing Specialist

Description:

At National Trade Supply, the Purchasing Specialist supports the seamless flow of goods from suppliers to our warehouse. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on detail, organization, and proactive communication to ensure products are ordered, delivered, and available on time.

You’ll take ownership of creating purchase orders, monitoring supplier performance, and resolving issues that could impact product availability. From OEM finished goods to our own manufactured aftermarket products, your work will keep our supply chain reliable and our customers confident in every purchase.

At National Trade Supply, we operate with a shared set of core values that guide how we work and grow together: Grit, Bias for Action, Critical Thinking, Self-Awareness, and Operational Excellence. These principles shape our culture, influence our decisions, and define what it means to succeed on our team.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement & Order Management

• Create and manage purchase orders for finished and raw goods with accuracy and timeliness, including international containers.
• Monitor order status and follow up with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery.
• Address supplier-related issues including delays, quality concerns, and damaged shipments.
• Database management for up-to-date information

Supplier Communication & Relationship Management

• Act as a point of contact with suppliers to track open orders and resolve discrepancies.
• Communicate proactively about changes in lead times, product availability, or fulfillment issues.
• Support negotiations by providing data-driven insights into vendor performance.

Inventory & Operations Support

• Partner with warehouse and operations teams to ensure products are received, stocked, and available for order fulfillment.
• Monitor stock levels and reorder points to avoid shortages or overstock.
• Collaborate with outbound team on parcel optimization for efficiency.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work with Supply Chain & Procurement leadership to align purchasing with business needs.
• Collaborate with eCommerce, Customer Service, and Operations teams to address product availability questions and forecast for quarterly expectations.
• Document processes and recommend improvements to increase efficiency and accuracy.

The Outcome We Are Seeking:

To succeed in this role, the Purchasing Specialist should build reliable processes that keep product flow consistent and predictable. They should ensure purchase orders are placed on time, suppliers are held accountable, and product availability supports both our B2C and B2B customers. This role is about reducing operational disruptions, improving communication, and supporting a smooth supply chain from supplier to shelf.

• Performance will be measured by the quality and impact of supply chain operations, including:
• Timely creation and accuracy of purchase orders.
• Reliable communication with suppliers to prevent delays and resolve issues quickly.
• Accurate product availability to support consistent order fulfillment.
• Reduced day-to-day burden on leadership through proactive execution and clear reporting.

Why Choose Us:

• Competitive salary and benefits designed to support your well-being.
• A culture that’s always striving to learn, improve, and grow — together.
• Opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and career growth.
• True work-life balance: we believe great work happens when people have the space to recharge and take care of themselves outside of work.
• Direct access to leadership and decision-makers — your ideas won't get lost in layers of bureaucracy.
• A role where your work will make a real, measurable impact — improving the online shopping experience for customers and driving meaningful growth for the business.
• A collaborative environment where everyone's voice matters and innovative thinking is encouraged.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 2–4 years of experience in supply chain, procurement, or operations (e-commerce experience preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in creating purchase orders and managing supplier communication
• Hands-on experience creating purchase orders and tracking supplier deliveries.
• Strong Excel/Google Sheets skills for order tracking, reporting, and analysis.
• Detail-oriented with proven ability to manage multiple suppliers and orders simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills for supplier engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to address quality issues, shipping delays, or damaged goods.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.

Interview Process:

We take hiring seriously because every person we add must have a meaningful impact on our culture, our work, and our team. As a small and growing company, we are intentional about who we bring on board, and we don’t compromise on that standard for the sake of speed.

Our interview process includes the following steps:

• Online application (incl. Predictive Index behavioral and cognitive assessments)
• Phone screen
• 1:1 Interview with Director of Supply Chain & Purchasing
• Panel interview with cross-functional team members
• Final offer

As part of our hiring process, we ask candidates to complete Predictive Index (PI) behavioral and cognitive assessments. These tools help us better understand your natural work style, communication preferences, and problem-solving approaches. They’re not used to “pass” or “fail” candidates — rather, they give us a more complete picture of how you might fit within the team and where you can thrive. We believe great hiring is about more than just skills; it's about setting people up for success from day one.

Throughout the process, you’ll meet with several people from across the organization — including senior leadership, members of the Operations department, and internal stakeholders who will be key partners in this role. We believe that great hiring is a two-way street, and our process is designed to give you a real feel for who we are and how we work.

We understand that this level of engagement won’t be the right fit for everyone, and that’s okay. Candidates who aren’t comfortable with any part of the process may find a better fit elsewhere, and we genuinely wish them the best. For those who are excited to engage fully, we’re just as excited to get to know you.