Purchasing Assistant

SUMMARY

The Purchasing Assistant compiles information and records to prepare purchase orders for procurement of material by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Verifies language and specifications of purchase requests.
• Searches inventory records or warehouse to determine if material on hand is in sufficient quantity.
• Consults catalogs and interviews suppliers to obtain prices and specifications.
• Writes or types purchase order and sends copy to supplier and department originating request.
• Compiles records of items purchased or transferred between departments, prices, deliveries, and inventories.
• Computes total cost of items purchased.
• Confers with suppliers concerning late deliveries.
• Compares prices, specifications, and delivery dates and awards contract to bidders or places orders with suppliers or mail order firms.
• Verifies bills from suppliers with bids and purchase orders and approves bills for payment.
• Uses computer, data entry terminal and other usual office equipment.
• Observes all company policies and regulations including safety, housekeeping and quality of work.
• Utilize individually and/or further the use of total quality concepts, tools and techniques to support continuous quality improvement in all processes in which the position participates.
• Performs other duties as requested or necessary to meet business conditions and changes.

QUALIFICATIONS - To perform this job successfully, 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.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE - High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience

OTHER RELATED SKILLS

Must be able to effectively use Microsoft Word, Excel, and have good documentation skills for data comparison, data reporting, and general business-related documentation.

LANGUAGE SKILLS - Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS - Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

REASONING ABILITY - Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT - The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts and/or airborne particles.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.