Purchasing Manager

Lead Procurement Buyer / Manager Reports to the Director of Supply Chain for the Southeast Region. Will oversee the purchasing department for the Atlanta facility. The Lead Buyer contributes to a high-quality customer experience by ensuring the reliability, availability and appropriate quantities of stock and on-hand inventory are available when they are needed to meet customer needs. This will include processing purchase orders, negotiating with suppliers, tracking orders, creating and maintaining an inventory, quality assurance, and liaising with inventory teams and management. The buyer will work with team members across departments to manage minimum/maximum inventory levels and the business needs and make purchase decisions based on demand and in step with the procurement standards and practices. Key Duties & Accountabilities (Primary responsibilities & quantifiable measurements) Process and confirm POs and/or communicate what needs to be ordered, the day they show in REACT Reply to all emails by the end of business day Maintain and keep price lists current on the appropriate drive Resolve vendor problems and elevate issues immediately to an acceptable, timely and appropriate resolution Obtain information about customer needs or preferences by conferring with sales personnel Analyze each purchase request for need, volume, price and quantity Manage open PO’s, back orders and inventory levels, alerting Customer Service immediately to changes to deliver in full, on time and in spec (DIFOTIS) Facilitate all new suppliers completing the ISO Supplier Evaluation form to be on the Approved Vendor List. Negotiate prices, discount terms, or transportation arrangements with suppliers Authorize payment of invoices or return of merchandise. Monitor and analyze sales records, trends, or economic conditions to anticipate customer buying patterns to determine how much inventory is needed Control stock levels based on forecasts/analysis, min/max numbers and min/max reports Serve as backup to normal merchandiser functions; quoting, sourcing, etc. Facilitate new item set Maintain thorough email and other records Assist with slow-moving inventory Expedite material based on customer needs Build relationships with suppliers Serve as liaison with customer service, sales, design, manufacturing, shipping and corporate strategic procurement