Purchasing Agent

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

Responsible for assuring the continuous supply and timely procurement of production materials in order to maintain maximum manufacturing levels at optimum costs consistent with quality and delivery requirements.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•Generate/process requisitions and purchase orders for all production requirements as required by production plan, incorporating supplier lead time, cost, and current inventory levels.
•Maintain, re-evaluate, and expand reliable sources of supply and secondary sources as back up to promote appropriate competition and insure continued production.
•Seek and recommend cost savings opportunities based upon new sources, substitutions, improved systems or new materials.
•Expedite solutions to problems that arise due to delivery, quality, quantity and cost of assigned commodities.
•Negotiate settlements with suppliers for problems that have caused company losses (poor quality, delivery delays, etc.).
•Negotiate prices and create competitive bidding situations to insure lowest total cost.
•Maintain close coordination with Production Planning so that adequate quantities of materials will be available while maintaining the lowest possible inventories.
•Responsible for development and maintenance of raw material specifications and material part numbers.
•Keep informed of new materials and purchasing trends by attending seminars, trade shows, etc., visiting suppliers, and participation in purchasing association.
•Assist Purchasing Manager with other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
EDUCATION

•Four-year college degree

WORK EXPERIENCE AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

•Minimum 3-5 years related purchasing experience.
•Experience in Pharmaceutical, Biotechnical or Medical Device industry is a plus
•Ability to multi-task.
•Must react with a strong sense of urgency.
•Capability to influence and persuade internal and external customers through sound logic and articulate arguments to meet objectives.
•Ability to work independently.
•Good oral/written, analytical, organizational and negotiating skills.
•Computer skills including Microsoft Word and Excel.