Purchasing Assistant

Description:

Northway Industries, a woodworking manufacturer, is seeking an organized, detail-oriented Purchasing Assistant to support our purchasing and sales teams. This position focuses primarily on managing vendor credits and obtaining accurate material pricing for sales estimates, with additional responsibilities in purchasing and inventory support.

Primary Responsibilities:

Vendor Credits

• Request and track vendor credits for returned, damaged, defective, or incorrectly billed materials.
• Coordinate with vendors, receiving, and accounting to resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain supporting documentation and follow up until credits are received and applied correctly.

Material Pricing for Sales

• Obtain current material pricing, availability, and lead times from suppliers to support sales quotes.
• Confirm material specifications, quantities, freight charges, and other applicable costs.
• Keep pricing records current and communicate changes to the sales and purchasing teams.
• Follow up promptly on pricing requests to help sales meet quoting deadlines.

Additional Responsibilities

• Prepare and place material orders as assigned.
• Match supplier order acknowledgments to purchase orders, verifying pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates.
• Resolve order discrepancies.
• Assist with inventory cycle counts, investigate differences, and maintain accurate records.
• Maintain purchasing documents and information in the company’s business system.
• Support other purchasing and inventory activities as needed.
• Track open purchase orders and follow up with suppliers on late or overdue orders. Confirm revised delivery dates and communicate delays to purchasing, sales, and production so schedules can be adjusted as needed.

Requirements:

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy with numbers and records.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to manage several requests and deadlines.
• Clear communication skills and a professional approach when working with vendors and coworkers.
• Ability to identify discrepancies, ask questions, and follow issues through to resolution.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, email, and basic computer applications.
• Experience in purchasing, inventory, accounting support, or administrative work is preferred.
• Familiarity with manufacturing, woodworking materials, or ERP software is helpful.