Position: Creative Virtual Assistant
Working Hours: Monday - Friday, 7AM - 4 PM Central Time
Salary Range: $900-1500/ month (Depending on the interview result and the client's approval)
This role will manage inventory, purchasing activities, ERP purchasing data, optimizing spend, sourcing materials, vendor management and meeting the overall supply demands of the production facility. The position reports to the Master Planner. The position requires working with external suppliers and internal team members to support company objectives.
- Apply negotiation and procurement best practices and methods to establish and maintain relationships with suppliers
- Timely purchase order submission, including managing schedule changes, quantity changes, and cancelations to ensure continuous supply of required materials
- Communicate any supply problems which may pose a risk or impact on business operations
- Request and review quotes from qualified suppliers to source materials
- Negotiate prices and terms with respect to cost, quality, and delivery competitiveness
- Collaborate with production, planning, engineering, finance, and customer service as needed
- Regular review of inventory usage and adjust ordering requirements and update ERP as necessary.
- Facilitate the return of rejected or obsolete material
- Monitor market trends and stay current and up to date on any changes that may affect the supply and demand of needed products and materials
- Evaluate areas of opportunity for continuous improvement to reduce costs where possible
- Explore and vet alternate sources for goods and materials
- On-board new suppliers and monitor current suppliers to ensure compliance with QMS
- Support product change requests by reviewing and communicating the impact on finished goods, on order materials, and capacity plans
- Other duties as assigned
- Strong attention to detail
- Minimum 3 years of purchasing experience in a multi machine manufacturing environment
- Proficient with MRP/ERP systems (EPICOR) and Microsoft Office products
- First-rate communication skills and ability to interface with multiple internal departments at all levels of authority
- Analytical problem solver with a common sense and practical solutions orientation
- Ability to effectively and efficiently balance competing priorities
- Prior experience with Kanban and lean manufacturing desired
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Plastics manufacturing a plus
