Chemical Purchasing Coordinator

This position is responsible for overseeing the procurement, inventory management and compliance documentation of chemicals used in the manufacturing of our products. The role requires daily communication with suppliers and internal customers to ensure the timely and accurate receipt of materials.

Are you naturally curious, imaginative, analytical, and always refining ideas? Are you a driven, resourceful thinker who enjoys teaming up with others who match your energy? Optimistic, practical, inventive—and constantly improving?

If this sounds like you, we’d love to talk.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Buyer focused on chemical purchasing to join our Procurement team. This is a key role in our organization, with high visibility and significant impact across our operations.

This position is based in Pinellas Park, Florida, and requires on-site presence five days a week. Remote work is not available for this role.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Generate POs utilizing both ERP data and reports for Chemicals requirements.
• Review Purchase Orders for accuracy and completeness.
• Responsible for the timely receipt of Certificates of Analysis on each chemical by holding the supplier accountable.
• Review ERP and Production schedule daily. Work with Scheduling and Production to ensure materials arrive in time to meet production schedule.
• Review open Purchase Orders to prevent past due shipments, evaluate short shipment and confirm due dates.
• Monitor and update supplier master data.
• Keep up-to-date and accurate purchasing files.
• Re-order materials based on Kanban replenishment triggers.
• Coordinate with the Accounting department for invoice processing, approval and payment.
• Maintain supplier KPIs and evaluation process.
• Process returns to suppliers.
• Forecast chemical requirements to ensure adequate supply. Review requirements with Production and Scheduling to confirm accurate delivery timing.
• Monitor stock levels and coordinate with the production team to maintain optimal inventory without overstocking to remain in compliance with all stock room requirements.
• Post inventory adjustments and cycle count data, review lot number issues, and work with cost accounting to resolve discrepancies in ERP system.
• Work with Production and Scheduling to Review and Disposition aging chemicals.
• Analyze usage trends and apply that information to current expectations.
• Work closely with the R&D department, to source chemicals based on quality, cost, and availability.
• Update and monitor supplier lead-times to ensure a consistent supply chain.
• Monitor supplier quality and follows-up corrective actions.
• Participate in Supplier measurements including on-time delivery, quality levels, and cost improvements.
• Utilize visual tools to monitor inventory levels where appropriate.
• Report key metrics including on-time delivery, supplier performance, purchasing variance, inventory valuation and turns information.
• Identify critical chemicals, request cycle counts and assist as needed to maintain accurate inventory ERP system.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and employees.
• Work with R&D to keep usable stock and expense/dispose of trial material in a timely manner.
• Generate, negotiate and implement current and future supplier agreements.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Analyze market conditions to ensure material availability.
• Give creative options for alternative constructions when current supply isn’t available.
• Seek new sources and alternate sources of materials to ensure adequate supply and competitive pricing.
• Identify areas of risk with regards to sole sources or custom product to ensure actions are taken to mitigate the risk.
• Identify and implement actions that continually position the business for increased quality and reduced costs.
• Support the overall corporate goals of profitability and growth. Assure that activities are aligned with the purpose of meeting these objectives.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establish strong relationships with coworkers.
• Process requisitions for materials and supplies as requested by management.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• This position requires daily onsite interaction with internal and external customers because of this, it is fully onsite and not a remote position.

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IMS) RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Improve work processes.
• Provide input and verify that documented procedures are adequate and accurate and in support of achievement of the strategy.
• Understand the IMS policy and how it applies.
• Keep records and data on pertinent business outcomes.
• Participate in internal audits.
• Participate in ongoing process improvement.
• Participate in external registration and surveillance audits.
• Directly support methods and practices of the IMS Process through personal compliance and visible support actions.
• Support CSR activities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

This job may require some travel and meetings outside normal business hours.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, business or equivalent degree or experience.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment working with Chemicals.
• Proven leadership skills – ability to influence and motivate others.
• Proven planning and analysis capabilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to effectively present complex topics in a concise manner.
• Excellent people skills; team player.
• Demonstrated ability to handle conflict.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize amongst many competing inputs.
• A self-starter with high energy, a passion for excellence, and a bias for action.
• Strong computer skills.
• MRP/ERP experience required. MAX Exact experience a plus.
• Experience in a web handling environment within the roll-to-roll film or paper converting industry desired.
• Six Sigma knowledge and experience (blackbelt or greenbelt) desired.
• Lean manufacturing experience desired.