Buyer

Wayne Pipe & Supply; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayne Pipe & Supply in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking a Buyer to manage the full purchasing process for assigned product lines and suppliers. You will optimize inventory, forecast demand, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure on-time deliveries and profitability.

The role emphasizes replenishment, direct-order purchasing, and continuous improvement within the Purchasing Department. Strong communication and ERP/Prophet 21 experience are valued.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least two years of purchasing or inventory experience recommended.
• Experience using an ERP purchasing system preferred.
• Industrial distribution or PVF industry experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage replenishment purchasing for assigned product lines.
• Monitor inventory levels, fill rates, turns, and forecasts.
• Coordinate supplier performance and address issues.
• Partner with Sales to align project requirements and timelines.
• Execute purchasing decisions within approved budgets and policies.
• Support continuous improvement in purchasing processes and reporting.

Skills

Purchasing

Inventory mgmt

Forecasting

Negotiation

Vendor relations

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Prophet 21

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Buyer

Supervisor: Director of Operations

Department: Purchasing

Revision Date: 10/05/2026

Overtime: Non-Exempt

Schedule/Shift: 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. M-F

Position Overview

The Buyer is responsible for managing the complete purchasing process for assigned product lines and vendor partners, ensuring the timely procurement of inventory, direct-order materials, and project-specific purchases while maintaining optimal inventory levels, maximizing supplier performance, and supporting company profitability.

The Buyer maintains responsibility within the Purchasing Department and is assigned specific manufacturers, vendors, and product categories. Buyers are responsible for the day-to-day operational relationship with assigned suppliers, purchasing execution, forecasting, inventory optimization, replenishment planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Buyer works closely with the Director of Operations, Sales, Warehouse, Accounting, Branch Managers, and Operations Leadership to ensure exceptional customer service, efficient inventory management, and alignment with Wayne Pipe & Supply's operational and financial objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities

Purchasing & Inventory Management

• Manage replenishment purchasing for assigned product lines using Prophet 21 recommendations, inventory analysis, customer demand, supplier lead times, and established purchasing strategies.
• Purchase stock, directs, specials, and project-related materials while ensuring purchase orders are accurate and released promptly.
• Monitor inventory availability, shortages, fill rates, turns, aging, excess inventory, dead stock, and overall inventory investment.
• Maintain and recommend adjustments to stock levels, purchasing parameters, replenishment quantities, and inventory forecasts.
• Identify inventory-balancing opportunities, including transfers between branch locations.
• Evaluate alternate suppliers, manufacturers, and product substitutions to reduce supply disruptions and meet customer commitments.
• Maintain accurate and complete purchasing records in Prophet 21.

Forecasting & Demand Planning

• Analyze historical sales, purchasing trends, customer buying patterns, seasonal fluctuations, and business conditions to forecast inventory requirements.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and adjust purchasing quantities and inventory investment recommendations accordingly.
• Identify supply chain risks and support annual inventory-planning initiatives.
• Recommend strategies to improve inventory availability while reducing excess and obsolete inventory.

Supplier Coordination

• Serve as the primary day-to-day operational contact for assigned suppliers and maintain productive working relationships.
• Monitor supplier performance, responsiveness, and lead times and assist with supplier performance reviews and scorecards.
• Resolve routine supplier, availability, substitution, and delivery issues.
• Provide supplier performance feedback and escal pricing, contracts, rebates, and strategic supplier matters to the Director of Operations.

Project & Direct-Order Purchasing

• Coordinate purchasing activities, release schedules, material availability, and milestones for customer projects and direct orders.
• Partner with Sales to understand project requirements, customer schedules, and delivery commitments.
• Identify and resolve purchasing or supply issues that could affect project timelines or customer deliveries.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Sales, Warehouse Operations, Accounting, Branch Managers, and the Director of Operations to address customer demand, inventory planning, material availability, and purchasing discrepancies.
• Work closely with the Senior Buyers, Purchasing & Logistics Specialist, Purchasing & Expediting Specialist, and RMA Specialist to support effective department operations.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives that improve purchasing, inventory management, and customer service.

Continuous Improvement & Reporting

• Analyze purchasing and inventory performance, including inventory investment, fill rates, turns, forecasting accuracy, supplier performance, and departmental KPIs.
• Identify cost-saving, automation, process-improvement, and inventory-optimization opportunities.
• Support Prophet 21 enhancements, purchasing analytics, and department reporting.
• Participate in the development and revision of purchasing policies, procedures, and SOPs.
• Promote purchasing accuracy, accountability, consistency, and departmental best practices.

Technical Support

Although this position does not have direct supervisory responsibility, the Buyer provides technical support by:

• Serving as the subject-matter expert for assigned product and supplier lines.
• Providing support to the Purchasing & Logistics Specialist and Purchasing & Expediting Specialist.
• Sharing purchasing knowledge, tools, and best practices across the department.
• Supporting departmental initiatives and encouraging collaboration and accountability.
• Leading by example through professionalism, integrity, and reliability.

Daily, Weekly & Monthly Responsibilities

Daily

• Execute stock replenishment, directs, specials, and project-related purchasing.
• Review purchasing recommendations, exceptions, inventory availability, shortages, fill rates, and customer commitments.
• Monitor supplier lead times and respond to vendor communications.
• Coordinate with Sales and resolve routine supplier or purchasing issues.
• Review inventory-transfer and alternate-sourcing opportunities.

Weekly

• Review inventory turns, dead stock, surplus inventory, fill-rate exceptions, and inventory-balancing opportunities.
• Analyze purchasing trends, forecast accuracy, supplier performance, and alternate sourcing options.
• Meet with the Director of Operations regarding purchasing priorities, risks, and performance during weekly Purchasing Department meetings.
• Provide technical assistance to other purchasing team members.

Monthly

• Complete comprehensive inventory, forecasting, and inventory-investment reviews.
• Analyze excess and obsolete inventory and recommend corrective action.
• Review supplier scorecards and departmental KPIs.
• Recommend purchasing-parameter and inventory-investment adjustments.
• Present cost-saving, process-improvement, and reporting opportunities.

Decision-Making Authority

The Buyer is authorized to:

• Execute purchasing decisions within approved budgets, policies, and purchasing strategies.
• Prioritize purchasing activities for assigned product and supplier buy lines.
• Adjust replenishment quantities based on demand and inventory requirements.
• Resolve routine supplier, availability, and purchasing issues.
• Recommend alternate suppliers, manufacturers, product substitutions, and branch inventory transfers.
• Recommend changes to purchasing parameters and inventory-investment levels.
• Escalate pricing, contractual, rebate, supplier-strategy, and other significant decisions to the Director of Operations.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Working knowledge of purchasing, inventory management, forecasting, and demand planning.
• Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to analyze purchasing, inventory, forecasting, and supplier-performance reports.
• Ability to manage competing demands and respond effectively to changing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication and customer-service skills.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel proficiency and working knowledge of Prophet 21 or a comparable ERP system.
• Commitment to accuracy, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• At least two years of purchasing or inventory experience required.
• Experience using an ERP purchasing system required.
• Experience in industrial distribution or the PVF industry preferred.
• Experience with forecasting, inventory optimization, or project purchasing preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform prolonged periods of seated computer work.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 70 pounds.
• Ability to safely access warehouse and operational areas.
• Ability to travel occasionally between branch locations.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Fill rate — target 98% or higher.
• Inventory turns — target 4.0 or higher.
• Forecast accuracy — target 90% or higher.
• Project material availability — target 98% or higher.
• Inventory availability — target 98% or higher.
• Inventory investment — within approved budget.
• Dead stock reduction — annual goal achievement.
• Excess & obsolete inventory — annual reduction goal achievement.
• Supplier on-time delivery — target 95% or higher.
• Purchasing accuracy — target 99% or higher.
• Purchase order cycle time — meets department standard.
• Cost savings — annual target achievement.
• Supplier performance reviews — 100% completed.
• SOP compliance — 100%.
• Internal customer satisfaction — meets or exceeds expectations.

30 / 60 / 90 Day Success Plan

First 30 Days

• Complete onboarding and Wayne Pipe purchasing training.
• Learn Prophet 21 purchasing workflows and reporting.
• Build relationships with the Director of Operations, Purchasing team, Sales, Warehouse, Accounting, and Branch Managers.
• Become familiar with assigned vendors, product lines, inventory parameters, and purchasing procedures.
• Begin managing routine purchasing activities with guidance.

Days 31–60

• Independently manage assigned vendor buy lines and purchasing responsibilities.
• Demonstrate proficiency in forecasting, replenishment, and inventory planning.
• Monitor KPIs and identify opportunities to improve fill rates, inventory turns, and purchasing efficiency.
• Develop productive working relationships with assigned suppliers.
• Recommend at least one process improvement or cost-saving opportunity.

Days 61–90

• Fully manage assigned purchasing responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Consistently meet purchasing accuracy and service expectations.
• Demonstrate ownership of supplier communication and inventory performance.
• Contribute to department goals through measurable improvements in inventory management, purchasing efficiency, or supplier performance.
• Be recognized as a trusted resource within the Purchasing Department and a collaborative partner across the organization.

The Wayne Way — Culture & Expectations

At Wayne Pipe & Supply, Inc., employees are expected to represent the organization with professionalism, integrity, accountability