Purchasing Specialist

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK also owns and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States. More information is available at growmark.com. See what it's like to work at GROWMARK: e/CSVMnKCySsY * _PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT_* Assist Production & Purchasing Manager and Lead in facilitating purchasing and production activities, coordinating internal/external workflows, researching and evaluating preferred vendors and placing orders. Assures that GROWMARK & FS marketing direction is creative, focused, branded, effective, and coordinated across all divisions. * _ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS_* Assist internal co-workers and external customers to determine requirements for products and services and identify preferred vendors to meet those requirements. Research product information, enter on-line orders with vendors, track shipments, maintain open lines of communication between vendors and customers. Follows purchasing/production departmental procedure and purchasing standards. Implement operational efficiencies, decreasing turnaround times, and streamline work processes including identification and execution of self-service tools/platforms which better meet customer needs. Assists in leading purchasing process within Enterprise Marketing to assure purchasing process is followed and completed for the utmost in customer service. Assists in providing feedback to purchasing team and ensures work is completed on-brand and on-time. Assists in providing ongoing communication in researching and evaluating preferred vendors, negotiating contracts/quotes with vendors, quote creation with purchase orders if needed, monitoring and communicating the status of order including tracking of shipments to payment. Resolve customer complaints and inquiries. Contacts vendors regarding problems or questions with orders, Work with vendor and customer to identify and implement the appropriate corrective action. Collaborates with marketing strategists and content analysts across the enterprise marketing team to ensure all enterprise marketing content supports the overall strategy related to goals, voice and brand. Assists in supporting and execution of additional enterprise marketing teams duties including but not limited to overall brand administration and trademark lifecycle. Provides support and assists in end-to-end planning and execution of enterprise marketing initiatives in coordination with GROWMARK event planning and corporate sponsor(s) {division and/or executive areas} at select events ensuring the experience is creative, focused, and effective. Assist the Enterprise Marketing team and product divisions in regularly reviewing product offerings, ensuring inventory is adequate and/or offerings are relevant for seasonal needs and revising pricing when necessary. * _OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS_* Responsible to stay actively engaged and build overall personal awareness on current and emerging trends, best practices and other relevant information related to enterprise marketing with an emphasis on digital. In collaboration with leadership, proactively researches both industry and competitors marketing approach both at enterprise and regional level for awareness and overall effectiveness. Proficient in digital asset management systems such as Bynder, and workflow management systems such as Monday.com. Confidently and concisely build recommendations and present to all levels of leadership. Ability to effectively communicate both technical and non-technical information internally and externally teams. Responsible for encouraging, supporting, and promoting innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team. Anticipates bottlenecks, clarifies project priorities, identify risks and escalates issues that cannot be internally resolved. Follows GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA and DOT policies and procedures, as they apply. Performs all other duties as assigned. * _REQUIREMENTS_* Normally requires a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or the equivalent thereof, and 2+ years or more of marketing related work experience to demonstrate strategic marketing knowledge, critical thinking, project management, and presentation skills. Demonstrates essential abilities including business knowledge, collaboration, communication, customer focus, decision making and skill development. Exceptional attention to detail, superb prioritization and organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work environment. Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record. May required to lift and move 21-50 lbs. May be required to work beyond what are considered normal business hours. Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a valid passport. Ability and willingness to participate in required training that may include education on GROWMARK’s policies and procedures and additional training as it relates to the requirements of the position. * #LI-Hybrid* We are an equal opportunity employer, including protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment may be contingent upon receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.