Procurement & Inventory Optimization Specialist

ExcelliSearch, Inc.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

ExcelliSearch, Inc. is seeking a Buyer to manage day-to-day procurement for our plant operations in the Pittsburgh area.

The role focuses on executing approved global/regional category strategies, maintaining contract compliance, and ensuring material availability at the right cost, quality, and delivery. Responsibilities include procure-to-pay discipline, supplier escalation, data integrity in the ERP system, and collaboration with Operations, Planning, Inventory and Quality.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in any major; bachelor’s in supply chain, business or related discipline preferred.
• 2+ years of purchasing, materials, supply chain or manufacturing customer-service experience required.
• Working proficiency with Excel and ERP purchasing processes; Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience preferred.
• Ability to analyze supplier delivery, open orders, inventory and cost data, establish priorities, and communicate escalations effectively.
• Strong ethics, ownership, attention to detail, service mindset, collaboration and ability to work across multiple plant priorities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary purchasing execution partner for designated facilities and Operations leadership; understand production schedules, constraints, working capital, and the effect of purchasing decisions on regional results.
• Execute sourcing strategies, negotiated contracts, approved supplier lists, pricing, and specifications established by Global / Regional Category leadership. Escalate exceptions and market intelligence rather than independently altering strategic agreements.
• Collaborate daily with Operations, Planning, Inventory, Quality, Finance/AP and Category Management; maintain escalation paths and documented decision rights.
• Procure-to-pay discipline: Convert approved demand and requisitions into accurate, timely purchase orders; confirm price, terms, quantities, delivery dates, coding and approvals; monitor open orders through receipt, invoice resolution, and closure.
• Contract and policy compliance: Use approved suppliers, negotiated terms, buying channels, and delegated authority; flag maverick spend, off-contract pricing, duplicate orders, and exceptions for resolution.
• Supplier execution and escalation: Secure order acknowledgements, maintain realistic promise dates, expedite material, resolve shortages and discrepancies, coordinate escalation and recovery plans before operations are impacted.
• Inventory and working capital: Partner with Operations and Planning to review demand, lead times, safety stock, excess/obsolete inventory, open-PO exposure, and opportunities to lower inventory days on hand without jeopardizing service.
• Supplier performance: Maintain supplier delivery and defect data, support corrective actions with Quality and Category Management, implement focused scorecards for top suppliers by category.
• Cost and P&L impact: Validate contracted pricing, identify leakage and cost-avoidance opportunities, quantify material cost drivers, bring issues or savings opportunities to Category leadership and regional management.
• Data and systems: Maintain accurate supplier, item, pricing, lead-time and PO information in the ERP; support standardized workflows, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Customer service: Provide Operations with status, issue ownership, recovery dates, and timely communication; reduce friction through standard processes.

Skills

Excel proficiency

ERP purchasing processes

Analytical data ability

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

ExcelliSearch, Inc. is seeking a Buyer to manage day-to-day procurement for our plant operations in the Pittsburgh area.

The role focuses on executing approved global/regional category strategies, maintaining contract compliance, and ensuring material availability at the right cost, quality, and delivery. Responsibilities include procure-to-pay discipline, supplier escalation, data integrity in the ERP system, and collaboration with Operations, Planning, Inventory and Quality.