Indirect Purchasing Specialist

MSA - The Safety Company; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

MSA Safety is seeking a procurement professional to support indirect purchasing across regions, ensuring accurate PO creation, quotes analysis, and ERP lifecycle management. The role advances through Level I–III with increasing responsibility for policy adherence and supplier collaboration.

Qualifications include a bachelor’s in a related field; Level II requires 2+ years, Level III 4+ years and experience with large indirect spend. Certification and BI skills are a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain / Logistics / Business or Related Field.
• 2+ years indirect purchasing experience (Level II) with $10M-$100M indirect spend.
• 4+ years indirect purchasing experience (Level III) with >$100M indirect spend.

Responsibilities

• Create/convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders with accuracy.
• Analyze quotes, resolve purchasing inquiries, and support AP discrepancies.
• Maintain purchasing data within ERP and P2P systems.
• Promote adherence to procurement policies and P2P best practices.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within indirect procurement.

Skills

Price negotiation

Cross-functional leadership

Data visualization

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain / Logistics / Business

ISM/APICS/ASCM Certification (preferred)

Tools

SAP supply chain

Business intelligence platforms

Coupa

Ariba

GEP

Job description

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

At MSA, SAFETY is who we are AND it is what we do. We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our Mission to help protect people and assets all around the world. We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day.

Are you in? Read on for more details about this particular role.

Responsibilities

Level I

• Create/convert purchase requisitions into purchase orders while ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with procurement procedures (perfect PO).
• Support internal stakeholders and suppliers by analyzing quotes, resolving purchasing inquiries, and assisting with invoice or accounts payable discrepancies.
• Maintain purchasing document life cycle, supplier records, and procurement data within ERP and P2P systems.
• Demonstrate understanding of indirect purchasing policies, approved suppliers, and governance requirements while escalating exceptions as needed.
• Apply MSA Operating System tools and problem-solving methodologies to support efficient execution of daily purchasing activities.

Level II

• Execute indirect purchasing activities across MSA regions, requisition conversion, supplier communications, negotiation, commercial term evaluation, cost control initiatives and issue resolution
• Serve as a resource to stakeholders by promoting adherence to procurement policies, process standards, and P2P best practices.
• Leverage procurement systems, ERP tools, and reporting capabilities to monitor workflow performance, identify process improvement opportunities, and increase operational efficiency.
• Apply the MSA Operating System to identify root causes, drive corrective actions, and support continuous improvement initiatives within indirect procurement processes.

Level III

• Champion indirect procurement excellence through stewardship of global P2P processes, process standards, and stakeholder adoption.
• Own indirect purchasing performance metrics, workflow health, and related analytics to drive transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders, influencing procurement best practices through training, communication, process guidance, and collaboration with regional and global leadership.
• Partner with Procurement, Finance, IT, and business teams to evaluate, implement, and optimize procurement technologies, automation solutions, and system enhancements.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to strengthen controls, improve user experience, optimize operational efficiency, and support enterprise procurement objectives through the MSA Operating System.

Qualifications

Level I

• Required
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain / Logistics / Business or Related Field
• Experience: Entry level - This level will be higher tactical vs strategic
• Preferred
• Education: Also ISM, APICS, ASCM Certification
• Experience: Experience with business intelligence platform. Indirect material purchasing experience in a versatile industrial manufacturing, assemly or distribution environment, low volume / high mix.

Level II

• Required
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain / Logistics / Business or Related Field
• Experience: 2+ years indirect purchasing experience. $10M-$100M Indirect Spend. Cost savings >$100k.
• Preferred
• Education: Also ISM, APICS, ASCM Certification
• Experience: Proficient user of business intelligence platform. Experience in price and commercial terms negotiation, demonstrated SAP supply chain proficiency, large scale cost savings project leadership, cross funcational project leadership.

Level III

• Required
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain / Logistics / Business or Related Field
• Experience: 4+ years indirect purchasing experience. >$100M Indirect Spend. Cost savings >$250k.
• Preferred
• Education: Also ISM, APICS, ASCM Certification
• Experience: Use and creation of data visuals using a business intelligence platform. Experience with strategic supplier relationships, new product development projects, SAP supply chain systems expert, S2P or P2P software (Coupa, Ariba, GEP, etc.) experience