Supply Chain/Purchasing Associate

Simon & Schuster is seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Purchasing/Supply Chain Associate to join our procurement team in the book publishing industry. The Associate will play a key role in sourcing, negotiating, and managing the purchase of paper for print book production. This position involves maintaining relationships with paper suppliers, ensuring cost-effective purchasing, and monitoring inventory levels to meet production needs.   Responsibilities Include: Paper Procurement: Enter paper requirements ensuring all details are correct and align with available inventory. Assist with the purchasing process for all paper used in book production. Inventory Monitoring: Maintain and update inventory levels, ensuring adequate stock for production. Coordinate with the production team to avoid stockouts or excess inventory, balancing cost and availability. Collaboration: Work closely with accounting to resolve kickouts and trouble-shoot paper related disparities.  Work cross-functionally with production, printers, and logistics teams to align paper procurement with overall production timelines and goals.  Quality Assurance: Ensure that the paper purchased meets the required specifications for quality, texture, weight, and other factors crucial for print quality. Work with production and quality control teams to address any quality issues. Supplier Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with paper suppliers, ensuring consistent quality and timely deliveries. Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze paper purchasing data, including trends in pricing, delivery performance, and supplier performance. Prepare reports and offer insights to management to improve decision-making. Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in paper purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management, ideally within the book publishing or printing industries. Skills: Strong negotiation skills and vendor management experience. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); familiarity with procurement software is a plus. Ability to analyze purchasing data, identify trends, and make recommendations for cost-saving measures. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across departments. Knowledge of the paper market and trends in the printing industry is highly desirable.

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000