Part-time Purchasing Assistant

Purchasing Assistant

Company:

Auxo Medical manufactures and services medical equipment including sterile processing, biomedical, anesthesia, and other ancillary medical equipment. Our company is growing and expanding its customer base. Based in Richmond, VA we are currently servicing the Mid-Atlantic, Florida, Kentucky, and Michigan. We are looking for motivated and skilled people to support that growth.

Position Description:

As a Purchasing Assistant you will assist with purchasing requests for parts, supplies, services, and equipment, as well as maintain minimum stock levels, manage inventory, fulfill parts sales orders, and provide administrative support. A high attention to detail, high degree of accuracy, solid organizational skills and professionalism are crucial factors in daily administration of this position. Must be able to work independently, with little or no supervision. Prioritization with a sense of urgency is essential.  Opportunity for advancement for motivated individuals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Placing Purchasing Orders: Communicate with multiple departments to determine purchasing requirements and priorities. Accurately read and analyze sales history, inventory status, then turn that information into actionable purchase order. Generate and place these purchase orders ensuring maximum advantage by combining orders, leveraging freight options, and negotiated terms with suppliers.

• Tracking Purchase Orders: Track the status of all purchase orders. Maintain a current list of expected arrival dates for all purchase orders which have been placed. Disseminate expected arrival information to the appropriate sales and operations personnel.

• Purchase Orders Discrepancies: Work with Century's accounting and receiving staff, as well as our vendors, to resolve discrepancies that include invoicing errors, delivery issues, backorders, inconsistencies, freight claims, etc.

• Fulfill Sales Orders: Promptly respond to quote request and fulfill sales order. Process credit card orders for immediate release.

• Freight Management: Select freight methods for maximum efficiency and minimum cost. Ensure that all freight bills are appropriate, are linked to their proper Purchase Orders, and are properly recorded.

• Inventory Control: Ensure that the inventory count and the inventory value in the accounting software match actual conditions. Implement periodic cycle counts and plan and implement the annual physical inventory count. Manage minimum stock levels per Auxo's guidelines. Ensuring proper inventory storage and tracking.

• Product Sourcing and Development: Source components, equipment, services for manufacturing and service use. Source alternative suppliers maintaining quality while negotiating best possible price. 

• Supplier Management: Setup new suppliers in our database. This will include entering the supplier billing information, pricing, and assigning products to that supplier. Maintaining current supplier pricing and product descriptions is also a critical part of this role.

• Administrative Support: Backup phone queues during high volume call periods or when the administrative assistant is out of the office. Perform backup of administrative duties performed by other inside administrative positions such as needed.

• Other Ad Hoc assignments as required.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Interpersonal/Communications Skills: The Purchasing Associate must be a strong communicator who works effectively with a wide variety of people which include customers, other Auxo Medical staff, vendors and company management. The Purchasing Assistant represents the company to our vendors through phone interaction and written communication. As such, they must maintain a pleasant and professional demeanor in the face of potential issues and ongoing negotiations. The Purchasing Assistant must possess strong verbal and written skills in order to provide effective direction to our vendors and customers. In many cases, those vendors and customers are not in the United States and require unlike considerations in order to effectively communicate with those to whom English is a second language.

• Computer Skills: The Purchasing Associate must have a strong aptitude for the use of computers in order to document and analyze all product-related activities in various databases. Typical computer activities include interacting with vendor websites, sending emails, drafting letters, entering information into and querying databases, and analyzing data with spreadsheets.

• Organizational/Planning Skills: The Purchasing Associate must possess strong planning and organizational skills to effectively manage product ordering in a cost effective but timely manner. Attention to detail, efficiency of operation, and the ability to follow up and track details are crucial to the level of performance required in this job.

• General Characteristics: The Purchasing Associate must be dependable and responsible and must be careful and attentive to detail as well as work both independently and within a team environment. The candidate should display expense and cost control in decision making and have an extremely strong attendance record, which is a critical requirement of this position.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Required High School Diploma.

• Required minimum of 2 years of purchasing/procurement experience. 

• Prefer experience in manufacturing or health care industries.

• Required proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

• A combination of education and experience providing equivalent knowledge.

• Prefer associate degree or higher in Business or related field

• Prefer Salesforce Experience

• Prefer Candidates with sound technical knowledge of medical equipment, biomedical equipment, and processes 

• Prefer experience with Apple OS

Physical Requirements:

Requires the ability to work eight or more hours per day in the confined quarters of an office. Also requires the ability to read plans, bend, stoop, reach, lift, and move and/or carry items less than 50 pounds. Office work requires sitting at a computer monitor for extended periods of time, completing paperwork and to receiving/return phone messages. Standing is required for various activities.

Salary: $15 to $19 per hour depending on experience

Schedule: 2-3 days per week. Occasional full-time to cover vacations.

Core Behaviors:

Integrity and Professionalism

We value honesty and integrity above all else. We will treat customers and employees with respect and professionalism at all times.

Customers

Our customers are the lifeblood of our business. We will maintain outstanding customer relationships through honesty, flexibility, commitment, and quality.

Improvement/Learning

We are a learning organization. We strive to constantly improve our company and ourselves.

Empowering Work Environments

We work without fear of failure by taking thoughtful risks. We encourage everyone to make decisions that they feel are in the best interests of our company and customers.

Teamwork

We will strive to help our teammates and customers succeed. If one fails, we all fail. I will always ask "What could I have done better."

Safety

Nothing we do is worth risking the health or safety of any of our team members or customers.

Wise Environmental Practices

We respect our environment and recycle, reuse, and reduce our waste wherever and whenever we can.

If you are looking for an opportunity that provides satisfaction and personal growth, we encourage you to apply. We promptly review all applications. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Equal Opportunity Employer