Purchasing Agent

Position Overview The Purchasing Agent is responsible for ensuring our company has the right materials and equipment necessary to function. This position will manage the company's supply of products, materials and/or services and evaluate suppliers to obtain the best agreement possible on goods that are needed for business operations. Duties and Responsibilities Manage inventory levels and determine purchase needs Prepare and process purchase orders Schedule and verify deliveries Build and maintain positive supplier relations Evaluate suppliers by considering price, quality, availability, and other criteria Interact with suppliers to resolve shipping errors and quality issues Provide inventory planning information with production and scheduling teams Keep accurate and organized information on file for reference and tracking Prompt and regular attendance at an assigned work location. Interact with employees and customers in an appropriate manner. Be available on site to confer with staff members with whom the employee must interact on a regular basis. Communicate via email, prepare reports and work schedules. Review and analyze inventory data and information. Plan, prioritize and monitor purchasing activities. Complete assigned tasks/projects in a timely manner. Supervisory Responsibility No direct management or supervisory responsibilities. Safety Observe safety and security policies and procedures, including proper use of PPE (personal protective equipment); report potentially unsafe conditions; and use equipment and materials properly. Travel Approximately <5% travel is required to annually meet vendors. Qualifications An individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Bachelor's Degree in related field preferred, or combination of education and experience Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite software: Excel, Word, Outlook Preferred Education and Experience The expectation is that the individual has achieved a minimum level of education and/or related expertise to qualify for this position. Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field preferred, A combination of education and experience may be substituted for the Bachelor's Degree Competencies and Skills Attention to detail Strong organizational skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Time management Interpersonal communication Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday during normal business hours of at least 8 hours, and occasionally longer, for 5 days each week. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. Physical Demands This is primarily an office job and largely a sedentary role with frequent sitting. The position requires the ability to climb stairs, lift files, open filing cabinets, bend or stand as necessary. The position may occasionally be required to stand for prolonged periods of time. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee may regularly be required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. It is an essential job function and safety rule, applicable to every employee working in a safety sensitive classified position, to be able to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner. Work Environment Although the employee will primarily be in an office setting, while performing the duties of this job, the employee may need to visit the factory and be exposed to climactic variations, fumes or airborne particles, various levels of vibration, and moving mechanical parts. Various types of Personal Protective Equipment might be required based on the employee's work location. The noise level in the office is usually low, but hearing protection may be advisable or required for prolonged visits to certain parts of the factory. Other Duties and Responsibilities Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at the discretion of management any time. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Quaker is an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Quaker will be based on merit, qualifications, abilities, and Quaker's needs and resources. Quaker does not discriminate in any employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or any other category protected by law.