What are the responsibilities and job description for the Inventory Buyer position at G.W. Berkheimer Co., Inc.?
Position Summary:
The Inventory Buyer is responsible for ensuring optimal inventory levels for assigned product lines across all branches to support customer sales effectively. This role involves daily purchasing and inventory management tasks, vendor negotiations, and collaboration with corporate and branch teams to drive efficiency and meet organizational goals.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Inventory Management
- Perform daily purchasing and inventory tasks, including processing purchase orders, transferring inventory, filling backorders, and expediting outstanding orders.
- Eliminate obsolete or dead inventory to optimize stock levels.
- System Maintenance
- Maintain and update the S2K system for item and vendor information.
- Ensure the addition, modification, or removal of product data as needed.
- Vendor Relations
- Negotiate with vendors to secure the best total cost for products by optimizing:
- Pricing
- Discounts
- Terms
- Minimum and multiple order quantities
- Prepaid freight arrangements
- Data Management
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date files on pricing, product information, and negotiated buying agreements.
- Cross Departmental Support
- Coordinate product movement with branch sales and operations teams.
- Resolve discrepancies with Accounts Payable regarding vendor payments.
- Support corporate Sales and Marketing initiatives, including assisting with the preparation of monthly flyers and other product related cataloging.
- Process Improvement
- Identify and implement opportunities to enhance purchasing and inventory processes.
- Develop and document efficient procedures for inventory management.
- Additional responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Experience: Minimum of 2 years in inventory management, purchasing, or related fields. Experience with S2K or similar inventory systems is highly desirable.
Skills:
- Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
- Proficient in data analysis and inventory optimization.
- Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills.
Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with ERP systems, Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
Physical and Mental Demands:
- Ability to analyze inventory trends, forecast demand, and resolve discrepancies in purchasing or inventory levels.
- Ability to make decisions under time constraints to address inventory needs, backorders, or vendor negotiations.
- Identify and implement solutions to minimize inventory shortages, optimize stock levels, and eliminate obsolete inventory.
- Precision in maintaining accurate data, system updates, and vendor agreements to ensure efficient operations.
- Managing multiple priorities, including daily purchasing activities, vendor communications, and team support, often under tight deadlines.
- Effective communication and teamwork across departments to achieve organizational goals.
- Ability to remain focused and flexible in a dynamic environment with changing priorities and unexpected challenges.
- Occasionally lifting, moving or carrying items weighing up to 20 pounds (e.g., product samples, files, etc.)
Working Conditions:
Office-based with potential travel to branches or vendor locations as needed. Primarily seated work with frequent use of a computer and telephone, including prolonged periods of typing, reading and data entry.
Benefits:
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account
Employee Assistance Program
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
401K/401K Match
Profit Sharing
Paid Holidays
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Tuition Reimbursement
