Purchasing Assistant III

Maine; Bar Harbor (ME); Hybrid; USD 53,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, is seeking a Purchasing Assistant III to keep research supplied on time and on budget. This fully remote role offers independence, problem solving, and special projects while supporting internal customers and suppliers within policy.

Responsibilities include placing orders, tracking delivery, maintaining records, and training colleagues. Salary range reflects experience and internal equity considerations.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; associate or bachelor's degree preferred.
• 5+ years in purchasing or similar procurement role.
• Strong problem-solving and independent work capabilities.
• Proven ability to train colleagues.
• Excellent negotiation, time management, and data accuracy skills.

Responsibilities

• Place and manage orders, review requests for completeness and accuracy.
• Update purchase orders and maintain records of supplies and vendors.
• Track delivery to ensure on-time arrival.
• Coordinate with vendors and end users to resolve procurement issues.
• Provide guidance to end users about the procurement process and training.
• Identify new sources and negotiate favorable terms.
• Support daily operations including maintenance stock and grant encumbrances.

Skills

Problem solving

Training ability

Negotiation

Time management

Data entry accuracy

Communication

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, United States

Job Description

About the Role
Keep the science moving. As a Purchasing Assistant III, you are the person who gets researchers and staff the supplies and services they need, on time, on budget, and in line with Laboratory procurement policy.
This is a fully remote position at the most experienced level of the Purchasing Assistant career ladder. You will work with a high degree of independence, solve complex problems, take on special projects, and help train colleagues. You will work with a wide mix of internal customers and outside suppliers, so strong relationships and clear communication matter as much as attention to detail.

This role is fully remote
Salary Range: $25.34- $36.75 based on years of related experience and internal equity considerations

What You Will Do

• Place and manage orders. Review purchase requests for completeness and accuracy, prioritize them, and choose the best way to process each one based on cost, timing, and competitive bidding. Place orders with vendors, including orders for controlled substances, prescription drugs, and radioactive items, and confirm prices, availability, and delivery. All work follows Laboratory procurement policies and local, state, and federal guidelines.
• Keep accurate records. Update purchase orders in the computer system with a high degree of accuracy. Maintain records of supplies, amounts ordered and received, and actual sales for items and vendors.
• Follow through on delivery. Track orders so materials and services arrive on the promised dates.
• Work with vendors and end users. Coordinate, facilitate, and resolve day-to-day procurement issues. Coordinate on-campus vendor shows.
• Support and advise colleagues. Give routine advice and support to end users on the procurement process and documentation. Help with user training and problem resolution as needed.
• Find better sources. Seek new sources of supplies and services and secure favorable terms for the Laboratory.
• Support daily operations. Perform other duties as required, such as scheduling equipment maintenance and services, adjusting grant encumbrances and rolling them into the next year, maintaining the catalog library, and filing. Assist in the operation of a maintenance stock room and receiving dock.

Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or GED. A combination of education and experience may be considered. Associate or bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience: 5 + years in the same or a similar role.
• Ability to draw solutions from a wider range of experience, adapt methods to solve complex problems, and resolve them in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated ability to guide and train others.
• Ability to negotiate the best price and service while working within Laboratory procurement policies and procedures.
• Proven ability to organize time, work under time constraints, meet deadlines, and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability to take over special projects and follow through to completion.
• Ability to perform basic information research, gather and compile data, and prepare reports.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and accurate data entry.
• Effective interpersonal skills for working with a wide variety of people and personalities, including internal customers and external suppliers.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to operate computer hardware and software applications normally found in a business setting.
• Team player with positive and professional behavior, and the judgment to recognize the limits of your responsibility and direct issues to the appropriate people.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds when assisting in the maintenance stock room or receiving dock.

About JAX:

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center and nearly 3,000 employees in locations across the United States (Maine, Connecticut, California, New York, Florida),Japan andChina. Its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.

Founded in 1929, JAX applies over nine decades of expertise in genetics to increase understanding of human disease, advancing treatments and cures for cancer, neurological and immune disorders, diabetes, aging and heart disease. It models and interprets genomic complexity, integrates basic research with clinical application, educates current and future scientists, and provides critical data, tools and services to the global biomedical community. For more information, please visitwww.jax.org.

EEO Statement:

The Jackson Laboratory provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, gender, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, national origin, veteran status, and other classifications protected by applicable state and local non-discrimination laws.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.