Purchasing Manager

Description

As a leading manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and equipment for healthcare simulation and education, Pocket Nurse provides solutions and services that create hands-on learning experiences for the next generation of healthcare professionals. Our small business philosophy is, “Use your best judgement every day.” Not only do we give team members the guidance and tools to succeed, we give them autonomy to do their best for the company to succeed.

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for creating and managing a purchasing strategy that utilizes appropriate vendors for sourcing goods and services while maximizing company product margins and balancing customer satisfaction.   

This position requires self-initiative. This individual can react and adjust quickly to changing conditions and come up with practical ideas for dealing with them. Challenges and pressures must be handled with confidence and determination. This position requires an incisive communicator with the ability to influence others while being firm and direct. There is a strong demand for high quality, organized and repeatable results.

Key Responsibilities and other duties as assigned:

• Develops, analyzes and executes purchasing strategies ensuring pricing, terms, delivery, and compliance are met based on forecasting provided by Supply Chain for demand levels.
• Negotiates with vendors to source products that meet our customer needs, margin goals and sales strategies.
• Determines timing of deliveries and collaborates with domestic suppliers to balance availability, cost, and delivery. Shifts to back-up vendors when delivery or costs becomes a concern. 
• Reviews product offerings and promotional recommendations based on vendor negotiations, customer trends and margin analysis.
• Manages the relationships with vendors, conducts regular business reviews and holds vendors accountable for mutual business goals.
• Creates catalog offerings and reviews with Director of Marketing and VP of Sales Operations.
• Performs cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking reports and provides functional metrics to reduce costs and improve effectiveness.
• Reviews bid proposals and negotiates contracts within budget and scope of authority to ensure that all purchases are within company requirements and regulations. 
• Leads the Product and Pricing Evaluation Committee meetings to determine the feasibility of adding new products to the offering.  Work with Sales to determine forecasting and sourcing vendors to ensure products will meet minimum profit margins.
• Works with affiliated company to maximize buying power of both companies to improve margins for both companies.
• Monitors company’s ability to sell supplier products in foreign markets and to ensure company is adhering to supplier distribution agreements.
• Manages Purchasing and Returns Teams to ensure:
• Appropriate vendors are selected to purchase product.
• Problem identification and correction related to orders including pricing (COGS), due dates, delivery, and quality by alerting vendors of problems or discrepancies.
• Assistance with sales team in getting freight quotes and coordinating delivery between supplier and customer.
• All necessary information is provided on the New Product Form for all Domestic stock items.
• Master Data has product images and descriptions, unit of measure, pricing, SDS, Country of Origin, NAFTA, Prop 65 or any other identified information accurately and timely.
• Research product substitutions for functional comparability, cost and availability.
• Vendor price changes are reported to Master Data, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service.
• Reporting on sales forecasting based on vendor estimated ship dates, vendor performance, and ad hoc requests from management.
• Quick response times in the returns department and report on reasons for returns to show where improvements can be made.

Travel:

• Travel is not core to this position but could be scheduled based on business needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversees Purchasing Agents, Purchasing Expeditor, and Returns team.
• Determines resource needs and ways to attract, retain and manage a highly functional team.
• Responsible for team’s time and schedule management, performance management and career development.
• Promotes a diverse, harassment-free work environment.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality in all proprietary, planning, development or operation processes, procedures, products or documentation.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Mathematics, Economics or a related field and 4 years of related experience, or equivalent of 8 years combination of education and experience.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience with vendor management, inventory/supply chain, and portfolio management. A background in the Medical Device industry is preferred.
• Proven collaboration and contract negotiation skills with vendors at all levels.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in managing a team of at least 5 direct reports.
• Ability to analyze data and identify/take action on cost reduction opportunities.
• Knowledge of inventory management system and ERP/CRM software.
• Understanding of inventory/accounting relationships.

• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with ability to build strong working relationships with individuals of varying personalities.
• Detail oriented with strong follow through and ability to prioritize while handling multiple tasks.
• Ability to identify risk and determine how to move forward.
• Highly organized with focus on execution, problem solving, and improving processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel with the ability to analyze and report on large amounts of data using pivot tables, vlookups and macros to name a few.

Benefits and Compensation:

• Competitive wages and quarterly bonus opportunities.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage options.
• 401(k) with generous company contributions.
• Paid time off, personal time, paid holidays, and flexible work schedules.
• Short-term disability insurance and voluntary long-term disability.
• Voluntary life, accident, and critical illness insurance.
• Company-wide cookouts, pot-lucks, and work-day events.
• On-site fitness center, free parking and dog-friendly.
• Opportunities for career enhancements through training and educational programs.
• The opportunity to make a difference in the ever-growing healthcare field.

Physical and Cognitive Demands:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation.  All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; requires color and close vision. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. No employee is authorized to lift and/or move weight over 50 pounds without assistance.

This role requires the individual to be able to understand complex problems, opposing points of view on complex issues, and collaborate and negotiate on alternative solutions; organize and prioritize thoughts, ideas, and own work schedule and oversee the work schedule of others; apply common sense, analyze and make decisions which have significant impact on the immediate work unit and monitor impact outside immediate work unit; express written and spoken word for internal and external communications and compose materials such as detailed reports, forms, letters, manuals, presentations, etc. and communicate information; and compute, analyze, and interpret complex statistical data for reporting purposes.

Pocket Nurse is an equal opportunity employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, genetic information, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Information is available here:   http://www1.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf

If you are made a conditional offer of employment, you will be required to undergo a drug test and background check (including criminal record check).

Qualifications