Purchasing Assistant

Job Description:
This position is primarily focused on purchasing administrative office work such as assuring orderly completion of purchasing / receiving and invoice documents to facilitate the appropriate supplier payments by the accounting department, as well as other administrative assignments. You will be highly organized and have strong computer and administrative skills.

Essential Functions:
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Request RMAs from suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers for defective and otherwise returnable merchandise.
• Ensure that invoices for orders received are accurate and timely posted; follow up with suppliers for missing / discrepant invoice documents.
• Handle goods throughout the purchasing process.
• Work closely with relevant departments to ensure purchase order documents and invoicing process is completed daily.
• Maintain production planning tool, Smartsheet for purchase order schedule notes from purchasing department daily.
• Provide timely order information & supplier invoices to Customer Service department for direct shipped (drop ship) customer orders.
• Keep accurate records of supplier communications for discrepant orders.
• Interact with purchasing department team to assure real-time information updates to other internal departments with regard to supplier invoices and product status.
• Computer skills should include experience with Microsoft products – Excel, Word and Outlook, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Adobe, and similar office systems
• Other administrative tasks that may be requested

Job Requirements:

• Excellent customer service skills on the phone and in person
• Diligence is crucial; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.
• Ability to prioritize and stay organized.
• Listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions.
• Reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments. 
• Excellent interpersonal and social skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Positive and professional demeanor

Supervisory Responsibility:
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:
This job operates both in an office setting and on the production / receiving floor. This role routinely uses computers.

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. 

• Able to lift, carry and move a minimum of 25 lbs. 
• Must be able to physically use various pieces of office equipment.
• Must be able to sit, stand and walk for various periods of time.
• Must be able to look at computer screens for various periods of time.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time non-exempt position. The hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a 1-hour lunch break, 40 hours per week, with additional hours as required, which may be during the week or on weekends.

Wage:
$22.00 to $24.00 per hour based on experience.

Travel:
There is typically no travel required for this position.

Required Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED), required.
• One to three years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience 
• ERP system experience preferred.
• Experience working as a purchasing assistant in the industry is preferred.

Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.