ELLIE’S ORGANIC HOME CENTER

JOB DESCRIPTION

PURCHASING MANAGER

Reports To:     STORE MANAGER/ ASSISTANT MANAGER

Department:   PURCHASING 

Overall Job Function: This individual is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the activities of purchasing for Ellie’s.  Makes, reviews and authorizes invoice payments, vendor/supplier contracts, maintenance agreements, new construction requirements, leases, and delivery service contracts.  Oversees inventory control.    Develops and implements departmental policies and procedures and modifies as needed.  Ensures that purchasing functions are completed in accordance with established policies and procedures.  Oversees related budgeting and controls financial expenditures.  Ensures that supplies, equipment, and services purchased are of acceptable quality and at the least possible cost.  Trains, directs, and appraises all Ellie’s personnel with regards to product knowledge and purchasing.

1. Assumes responsibility for the development and implementation of effective Purchasing Department policies, procedures, and planning. 

• Develops short and long-term goals and plans.  Assists with budgeting.
• Executes established operational goals and ensures that corporate-wide plans are complemented and supported.
• Analyze market and delivery systems in order to assess present and future material availability.
• Communicates with department managers and associates to coordinate product purchases.
• Communicates with property management, warehouse staff, departments managers, and shared dock responsible to coordinate transportation logistics.
• Collaborates with all vendors to insure product availability.
• Develops policies and procedures for purchasing operations.  Conducts periodic reviews of existing policies and procedures to ensure maximum efficiency and service delivery.  Establishes guidelines for requisitions and inventories.
• Review purchase order claims and contracts for conformance to company policy.
• Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
• Prepare and execute, in conjunction with the Legal Department, supply agreements which will fully protect the company against missed deliveries, shortages and outages, poor material quality, and other issues that could affect operations.

2. Assumes responsibility for ensuring the efficient and cost effective administration of purchasing functions.

• Researches and oversees vendors to ensure that supplies, equipment, and services are of acceptable quality, competitively priced, and delivered timely.  Establishes and maintains updated lists of alternate vendors. Continually evaluates vendors/suppliers and makes formal recommendations quarterly.  Maintains a vendor/supplier evaluation system.
• Analyzes potential risks and rewards of perspective supplier and/or new product categories.
• Oversees inventory procedures and controls.  Ensures that inventory levels are appropriate, secure, and accurately recorded and verified.  Directs receipt and storage functions.  Meets established inventory requirements.
• Ensures that ordering processes and related recordkeeping and documentation are accurate and effective. Ensures that all purchase orders, leases, and maintenance agreements are current.
• Ensures that purchasing problems, errors, or discrepancies are promptly tracked and resolved.
• Ensures that purchasing functions are completed in accordance with established policies and procedures.

3. Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective business relations with vendors, suppliers, and trade professionals.

• Serves as a liaison between Ellie’s and its vendors.
• Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers.
• Locate vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them in order to determine product availability and terms of sales.
• Ability to negotiate pricing and co-op dollars for marketing.
• Ability to coordinate with publications to produce marketing materials for print ads.
• Coordinates in house specials and ads with management.
• Maintains long-term productive relationships with suppliers and vendors.
• Ensures that the Company's professional reputation is maintained.
• Provides leadership through effective goal setting, delegation, and communication. 
• Administer on-line purchasing systems.
• Arrange for disposal of surplus materials.

4. Assumes responsibility for establishing and maintaining effective communication and coordination with Ellie’s personnel and with management.

• Assists and supports departments with all purchasing processes.
• Keeps production advised of key changes of schedule in materials due. 
• Informs managers of any new sources

5. Assumes responsibilities on the sales floor as needs.

• Strong merchandising skills.
• Ability to direct and teach Ellie’s team merchandising standards with visual.
• Oversee staff training on products.
• Assists in building plan-o-grams.
• Provides excellent customer service at all times.

Requirements:

- Bachelor's Degree preferred
- Additional business coursework strongly preferred.
- Thorough understanding of purchasing policies and procedures.

- Familiarity with sources of vendors and suppliers.
- Strong planning and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent interpersonal, relationship management and telephone skills.
- Excellent organizational skills; able to prioritize a multitude of tasks.
- Solid oral and written communication and negotiation abilities.
- Ability to work independently as well as be team oriented.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Able to operate PC, proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and additional software systems

- Background in “green” product purchasing preferred.

- Strong planning and organization skills required.

- Flexible hours than may include weekends, evenings, and travel.

Compensating: To be announced

Apply for Job

E-mail to Friend