Purchasing Agent

Kuehne Chemical Company; New Castle (DE); On-site; USD 73,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in chemical manufacturing seeks a Purchasing Agent to manage procurement activities, ensuring materials and services meet quality standards. The role requires strong organizational and communication skills, with responsibilities ranging from inventory management to vendor negotiations. Candidates should possess an Associate's Degree or higher and relevant experience in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of relevant business experience in manufacturing required.
• Ability to pass a 10-panel controlled substance test necessary.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates procurement activities ensuring quality at the best price.
• Manages procurement process from quotes to receiving orders.
• Monitors inventory levels to ensure timely ordering of materials.

Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Computer Skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel Skills

Education

Associate's Degree or higher in Business

Job description

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Kuehne Chemical Company provided pay range

This range is provided by Kuehne Chemical Company. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$73,000.00/yr - $80,000.00/yr

Job Title: Purchasing Agent

Classification: Full Time, Salary, Exempt

Location: New Castle, DE

Department: Purchasing

Direct Supervisor: Purchasing Manager

Job Summary: The Purchasing Agent ensures all materials, equipment, supplies, and services meet the company's Quality and Environmental Policy standards. Responsibilities include verifying proper receipt and accounting of orders, managing inventory to ensure timely stock replenishment, and maintaining adequate stock levels. Regular review of stock-keeping units (SKUs) is required to secure high-quality products at competitive prices, while encouraging incumbent suppliers to uphold a competitive edge. This role involves frequent collaboration with internal management and external vendors or contractors through various communication channels, including face-to-face meetings, phone, email, and other media.

Essential Responsibilities

• Coordinates activities with procuring goods and services, such as raw materials, equipment, tools, parts, supplies, and services, and constantly seeks the highest quality at the best price with an acceptable lead time.
• Manages the procurement process from start to finish, including requests for quotes, writing purchase orders, obtaining proper approvals and submitting purchase orders, receiving orders ensuring accuracy of items received, verifying invoices, and resolving discrepancies.
• Purchases for the plant, including production, maintenance, and the lab. Assists with purchasing for the transportation department across various sites. Occasionally purchases for the sales team, marketing team, HR team, or other departments as necessary.
• Learns and utilizes the Computerized Maintenance System to electronically process purchase orders, track inventory, associate parts with assets, assist with work order parts, and build a database capable of creating synergies across the company.
• Monitors raw materials inventories to ensure materials are ordered in a timely manner and that they meet Company requirements. This includes feedstocks and "in-process" materials.
• Receives bid packages from corporate engineering, reviews them for completeness, and takes them out for bid to approved contractors across various crafts. Reports back to engineering the pricing spread via project-specific documentation.
• Works closely with the plant Planner/Scheduler for kitting and other activities that promote maintenance of facility efficiency.
• Uses corporate volume purchase contracts (e.g., Staples, Amazon) to the fullest extent and encourages their usage across the entire CT Plant Team.
• Routinely performs an inventory of all supply stock and maintains clean and organized parts storage areas.
• Maintains storeroom stock inventory levels and deploys the technique of "ABC Classification" of spare parts.
• Confers with vendors to obtain product or service information such as price, availability, and delivery schedules, with particular attention to materials of construction.
• Negotiates terms and conditions with vendors within the comfort level of the item(s) being procured, including current or discounted pricing favorable to the company, using corporate purchasing systems.
• Investigates alternative shipping methods with vendors to expedite material delivery during emergencies, including, at times, picking up emergency orders from suppliers.
• Tracks purchase orders to detect and resolve issues with outstanding orders.
• Utilizes expertise in various shipping methods such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, including LTL shipments and international shipping.
• Understands Customs procedures and properly executes authorization paperwork to ship materials into and out of the country.
• Assures suppliers, vendors, and contractors are approved and carry the proper insurance coverage to meet Company requirements.
• Maintains a list of contracts and updates it via the plant-specific contract calendar. Monitors the calendar regularly to renew or cancel contracts as needed.
• Follows and understands Purchasing Procedures and makes recommendations to corporate per quality management protocols.
• Monitors trade references and takes action when necessary based on trade reference notices, warnings, etc.
• Maintains a critical material approved vendor list per quality management standards.
• Notifies vendors of non-conforming products and issues a non-conformance report if necessary.
• Collects and appropriately distributes mail within the facility.
• Maintains an active inventory of locker distribution.
• Manages the distribution of uniforms (Vendor/Employee/New/Terminated).
• Attends daily production meetings and reports on purchasing activities.
• Supports the Quality, Health, Safety, Environmental, and Security functions of the facility.
• Maintains a neat working environment and an orderly filing system.
• Occasionally attends offsite training or meetings at the South Kearny or other Company facilities, including the use of a personal vehicle when needed.
• Occasionally works nights or weekends to monitor the quality of service contractors.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, and ethics in interactions with vendors, co-workers, and customers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software, as well as other corporate software packages.
• Strong computer skills with the ability to learn database and ordering systems.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including creating tables, sorting data, and using pivot tables.
• Valid driver's license is required.
• 3-5 years of relevant business experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to pass a 10-panel controlled substance test and comply with random testing requirements.
• Capability to pass a background investigation check and maintain eligibility per TSA's TWIC criteria.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Associate's Degree or higher in Business or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a purchasing role, related business function, or comparable professional experience.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Purchasing and Supply Chain

• Industries

  Chemical Manufacturing

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