Job Description

Vallen’s Senior Buyers (Buyer II) are responsible for purchasing products, goods and materials (stock and/or non-stock) that meet the organization's standards of price, quality, timing, and reliability of supply. A Senior Buyer may be procuring product in support of a Vallen distribution center, warehouse, an assigned client, and/or an assigned vendor.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Perform procurement activities to ensure the organization's current and anticipated demand for products and materials (stock and non-stock) are met and in alignment with Vallen’s purchasing strategies.
  • Review and approve assigned inventory forecasts produced by the GAINS application.
  • Review and approve daily replenishment recommendations produced by the GAINS application.
  • Assess existing orders to determine action for expediting or de-expediting for optimal delivery.
  • Place purchase requisitions and vendor orders.
• Research, assess, and make recommendations for vendors and/or specific items of request to ensure they that they comply with specifications and meet the organization's quality, pricing, and delivery standards.
• Request and evaluate bids, quotations, and/or proposals for products and materials of request.
• Recognize and evaluate vendor sales, promotional campaigns, and other opportunities to secure reduced prices.
• May negotiate prices and delivery conditions and commit to purchases (within established limits of authority) with terms that are in the organization's best interest.
• Monitor the quality and timeliness of products and materials supplied; may coordinate the return of damaged goods and/or replacement items.
• Negotiate and coordinate vendor returns for aging, expired, or excess inventory; coordinate other liquidation activities as required.
• Follow-up on the status of purchase orders with vendors to ensure timely delivery; and communicate status of orders with internal and/or external customers.
• Communicates with vendors to resolve problems with timeliness and product quality.
• Maintain and cultivate relationships with one or more suppliers, vendors, internal or external customers.
• Assist with identifying opportunities to consolidate suppliers/vendors.
• Research and resolve account payables nonconformance with suppliers.

Qualifications

Job Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., Business, Finance, etc.) or equivalent experience. 3+ years of experience in the field of Procurement preferred. CPM certification preferred. Other relevant experience includes:

• Excellent customer service.
• Computer skills and aptitude to learn Vallen’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Inventory Management applications; GAINS experience preferred.
• Mathematical aptitude for basic calculations.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail, organizational and execution skills.
• Proficiency with MS-Office products.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations will be evaluated and may be implemented to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

• Long periods of time working on a computer and performing repetitive key-boarding activities.
• Work may be in a manufacturing environment and could have exposure to dirt, smoke, heat, cold, etc.
• Safety protection may be required while in the customer's facility (hand, foot, and eye or other as dictated by the customer's safety protocols).
• Overtime hours may be required with little advanced notice.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, ability to adjust focus, and may require the ability to distinguish color.

Target Pay Range: $26.44-$27.40