Buyer / Warehousing Coordinator

Valbruna; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Valbruna is recruiting a Buyer / Warehousing Coordinator to handle purchasing, receiving, and inventory control in a fast-paced manufacturing setting in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The role combines procurement duties with daily warehouse activities and requires someone who is energetic, organized, and proactive.

The position supports suppliers and internal departments, maintains records, and helps resolve delivery, quality, and invoice issues, ensuring materials are available when needed and records

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in purchasing, inventory, warehousing, materials management, or manufacturing preferred.
• Experience with purchasing/inventory systems or metals industry a plus.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing & supplier support: review requisitions, create POs, obtain quotations, compare pricing and delivery dates.
• Warehousing & inventory: receive, inspect, count, store materials; verify against PO; maintain accurate records.
• Operational & department support: coordinate with maintenance, production, quality and accounting; resolve issues quickly.
• Identify opportunities to improve organization, inventory accuracy, responsiveness, and day-to-day efficiency.

Skills

Organized & detail-oriented

Communication skills

Multitasking

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Independent work

Safety awareness

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Inventory systems

Job description

Founded in 1925 and a leader in the production of Stainless Steels, Nickel Alloys and Titanium Long products, Valbruna is a private company with 2,800 employees and an annual output of approximately 300,000 tons of specialty steels. Production is primarily focused on Stainless Steels and Specialty Alloys, available in blooms and billets, ingots, round, square, flat, hexagonal and angle bars, wire rod, wire, reinforcement bars and threaded rods, with the expressed goal of satisfying the most sophisticated needs of the customer. To that end, Valbruna is constantly updating its production capabilities and experience.

Job Summary

The Buyer / Warehousing Coordinator is responsible for purchasing materials, supplies, equipment, and services while maintaining accurate inventory and supporting the efficient operation of the warehouse and storeroom. This position works closely with suppliers and internal departments to ensure materials are available when needed and that purchasing, receiving, and inventory records remain accurate.

This is a hands-on position that combines purchasing responsibilities with daily warehouse and storeroom activities. This person should be energetic, organized, dependable, and comfortable solving problems in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Purchasing & Supplier Support

• Reviews purchase requisitions for accuracy and compliance with company procedures.
• Creates and processes purchase orders for materials, supplies, equipment, and services.
• Obtains and evaluates written quotations from suppliers as needed.
• Compares pricing, specifications, availability, and delivery dates to support purchasing decisions.
• Communicates with suppliers regarding pricing, product information, availability, and delivery schedules.
• Follows up on open orders, backorders, and late deliveries and expedites materials when necessary.
• Assists with identifying and evaluating suppliers and supports supplier performance reviews.
• Maintains accurate purchasing records, order confirmations, and related documentation.
• Assists with invoice discrepancies, returns, defective materials, and other supplier issues.
• Maintains required supplier and contractor documentation.

Warehousing & Inventory

• Receives, unpacks, inspects, counts, and stores incoming materials, supplies, tools, and equipment.
• Verifies incoming materials against purchase orders and receiving documentation.
• Issues materials, tools, and supplies to employees and maintains accurate inventory records.
• Maintains organized stock locations and ensures materials are properly identified and stored.
• Performs cycle counts and assists with annual physical inventory.
• Monitors inventory levels and helps maintain appropriate minimum/maximum and reorder quantities.
• Identifies obsolete or excess inventory and assists in maintaining accurate inventory records.
• Transports materials and supplies throughout the facility using appropriate material-handling equipment.
• Maintains the storeroom in a clean, safe, and organized condition.

Operational & Department Support

• Coordinates with Maintenance, Production, Quality, Accounting, and other departments to resolve purchasing and material needs.
• Reviews open orders, receiving activity, inventory discrepancies, and invoices on hold and takes action when needed.
• Works with internal departments to anticipate material and supply requirements.
• Helps resolve delivery, quality, receiving, and invoice issues quickly and professionally.
• Identifies opportunities to improve organization, inventory accuracy, responsiveness, and day-to-day efficiency.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Highly organized and detail-oriented with strong follow-through.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with suppliers and internal departments.
• Strong ability to prioritize and manage multiple requests in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Comfortable working with purchasing, inventory, and computer-based business systems.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Proactive approach with the ability to identify what needs to be done and take appropriate action.
• Strong focus on accuracy, safety, teamwork, and internal customer service.
• Ability to work effectively in both an office and hands-on warehouse/storeroom environment.
• Ability to safely lift and handle materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency and takes ownership of tasks from start to finish.

Education and Experience

• A High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Previous experience in purchasing, inventory, warehousing, materials management, or manufacturing is preferred.
• Experience with purchasing/inventory systems or the metals industry is a plus.

U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency is required due to ITAR and EAR regulations.