Purchasing Specialist

North American Science Associates, Inc.; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 56,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

NAMSA is seeking a procurement professional to source and negotiate capital equipment, goods, and services for assigned locations in the United States. You will collaborate with stakeholders to improve efficiency, achieve lower total costs, and ensure policy compliance across NAMSA's supply base.

Responsibilities include supplier performance evaluation, contract management, and maintaining vendor relationships, with a focus on cost savings and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Procurement or Supply Chain Management preferred.
• CPM, CPSM, or APICS certification preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management experience.
• Experience with an integrated ERP system.
• Strong negotiation skills and knowledge of procurement contracts.

Responsibilities

• Assist in sourcing, negotiating and buying capital equipment, goods, and services.
• Develop strategies to improve operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Negotiate supplier agreements ensuring lowest total cost and continuity of supply.
• Assess supplier performance and manage contract compliance.
• Create purchase orders and maintain pricing data and vendor records.
• Provide excellent internal customer service and respond to user needs.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Excel proficiency

ERP system experience

English fluency

Procurement knowledge

Contract law knowledge

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement or Supply Chain Management

CPM/CPSM/APICS certification preferred

Tools

Integrated ERP system

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel focused)

Job description

NAMSA pioneered the industry and was the first independent company in the world to focus solely on medical device materials for safety. NAMSA started testing medical devices before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration started regulating such products in 1976. We are shaping the industry. NAMSA has been a key contributor to the development of the test methods that govern our industry. We have become the industry’s premier provider. We provide support for clients during every step of the product development lifecycle and beyond. Come and work for an organization with the: Vision to inspire innovative MedTech solutions that advance global healthcare, improve patient lives and accelerate Client success and the Mission to deliver best‑in‑class global MedTech development solutions through our people, expertise and technology by adhering to our core Values: Act with integrity in everything we do. Provide best‑in‑class customer experiences. Develop superior talent and deliver expertise. Respond with agility and provide timely results. Embrace collaboration, diverse perspectives and ideas.

Compensation Target: $65,000.00

Job Description:

• Assists in sourcing, negotiating and buying of capital equipment, goods, materials and services for assigned locations.
• Develop ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency, add value, aid business performance and work towards a strategy of continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively with stakeholders and suppliers to negotiate agreements ensuring lowest total cost, highest quality and continuity of supply while maintaining compliance with NAMSA policies, specifications and requirements.
• Identifies and implements cost savings initiatives, reports progress and assists with the communication and implementation of the initiatives.
• Assess and evaluate supplier performance by completing performance reviews ensuring contract compliance and manage performance improvement activities.
• Interprets and communicates purchasing policies and procedures to departments, vendors and staff.
• Monitors the maintenance of item numbers, vendors and pricing data within the purchasing system, prepares reports and analysis and makes recommendations.
• Reviews requisition requests from department managers to ensure that all information and approvals are in place according to company policy before placing orders.
• Establishes vendor relationships by evaluating the cost, quality and availability of goods or services, negotiating and overseeing purchase contracts based on thresholds, setting up new vendors as needed, reviewing service agreements, and addressing issues in a proactive manner.
• Creates daily purchase orders, forwards order confirmations, follows up on back orders, etc., and provides feedback to Associates on order status.
• Assists with oversight to departments to ensure proper documentation and receipt of goods and materials, and provides training of procedures to staff.
• Provides excellent internal customer service to end users, expediting orders, obtaining quotations, creating orders, recalling product and providing general information.

Qualifications & Technical Competencies:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, Procurement or Supply Chain Management preferred.
• CPM, CPSM, or APICS certification preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management experience required.
• Experience working with an integrated ERP system.
• Working knowledge of the legal aspects of procurement and contract law.
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Skilled in the supervision or leading of work activities of others in the department.
• Fluency in English, or local language if different, required.
• Knowledge of computerized purchasing and inventory control systems.
• Advanced level of proficiency using Microsoft Office Suite with an emphasis in Excel.

Working Conditions:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Extensive use of computer keyboard.

The compensation grade range for this position is: $56,000.00 - $109,000.00 - Annual Please Note: Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills.

NAMSA is an equal employment opportunity company.

NAMSA participates in pre-employment background and drug screen processes aligned to local, state and federal laws.

NAMSA was founded on the principals of delivering quality customer service, conducting ourselves with integrity, respect for one another, open communication and collaboration.

Whether you have a background in Laboratory Science, Clinical Research, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Engineering, or Sales & Business, NAMSA offers exciting opportunities to align with your expertise.