Purchasing Agent

DescriptionPurchasing Agent in the steel industry centers on mitigating high material costs, managing volatility, and ensuring uninterrupted production through strategic sourcing using the ERP/MRP system and other internal tools. Purchasing agents are also responsible for the outsourcing of all rolled, bent, cut and/or drilled plate as well as other produced material to fulfill production requirements.

Core Responsibilities

Procurement and Supplier Management

Sourcing materials
Negotiating contracts
Managing supplier relationships
Monitoring performance
Budget cost controls
Obtain and compare quotes from mills, service centers and distributors
Evaluate suppliers based on price, availability lead time and quality
Purchase all materials to schedule, special requirements, location, and budget
Review material and determine best nested requirement and buy materials
Accurately process purchase orders in a timely manner
Stays knowledgeable on all current market conditions and adjusts buying patterns accordingly.

Inventory Control

Monitor stock
Forecast demand
Minimize costs
Coordinate with production to prevent shortages/overstocking
Implement Just-in-Time (JIT) strategies as appropriate
Track material usage and waste

Logistics and Delivery Coordination

Schedule deliveries to align with fabrication timelines
Arrange freight and transportation as/if needed
Track shipments and resolve delays

Purchase Order (PO) Management

Create and issue purchase orders
Verify accuracy of quantity specifications and delivery dates
Ensure compliance with specifications
Reconcile and approve invoices against purchase orders and received materials

Coordination with Project Management, Production Planning, Production, and Field

Review advanced bill of materials
Clarify material grades and certifications meet ASTM standards
Communicate lead times to all internal departments
Support change orders and material revisions
Provide purchasing schedule for each project to internal departments
Offers technical assistance on specific product(s)

Risk Management

Anticipate supply chain disruptions
Develop backup suppliers for critical materials
Manage contract risks and terms

Quality and compliance

Ensure materials meet required specifications
Obtain mill test reports (MTRs)
Resolve material discrepancies or defects with suppliers

Process Improvement

Analyze supply chain data, identify bottlenecks, and develop strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs
Develop and implement new strategies and workflows for procurement, inventory, and logistics
Optimize the entire flow of goods and services from sourcing to delivery

ADDITIONAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job responsibilities and functions that an employee in this position may be asked to perform. Above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed, .Duties and responsibilities can be changed, expanded, reduced or delegated by management to meet the business needs of the company)

Required qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities) to perform essential functions of this position:

Core Competencies:

Action Oriented - Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things he/she sees as challenging; not fearful of acting with a minimum of planning; seizes more opportunities than others.
Timely Decision Making - Makes decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure; able to make a quick decision.
Time Management - Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; values time; concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; gets more done in less time than others; can attend to a broader range of activities.
Integrity and Trust - Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
Functional/Technical Skill - Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
Written Communication - Is able to write clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles; can get messages across that have the desired effect.
Business Acumen - Knows how businesses work; knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends, technology, and information affecting his/her business and organization; knows the competition; is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.
Conflict Management - Steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities; reads situations quickly; good at focused listening; can hammer out tough agreements and settle disputes equitably; can find common ground and get cooperation with minimum noise.
Customer Focus - Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
Decision Quality - Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions.
Planning - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and goals; breaks down work into the process steps; develops schedules and task/people assignments; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results.
Priority Setting - Spends his/her time and the time of others on what's important; quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the obvious and doesn't stop at the first answers.

Work Experience

Minimum of five (5) years directly related purchasing experience in the steel fabrication business.

Education/Training

High school diploma or equivalent experience or education directly related to procurement.

Specialized Knowledge – Certificates & Licenses

As outlined in the Core Competencies, an individual must have thorough knowledge and an advanced understanding of each competency outlined above in order to carry out the essential functions of this position. Specialized Knowledge is also required in the following areas:

Demonstrated knowledge of basic business and purchasing principles;