Purchasing Agent (Remote)

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for managing high-volume purchasing activities to ensure optimal inventory levels, cost control, and service performance. This role requires a data-driven professional who analyzes purchasing and inventory reports to make timely buying decisions. Additionally, this role requires the ability to make optimal buying deals for SECLOCK, while developing and maintaining strong vendor relationships. The Purchasing Agent works cross-functionally with sales, warehouse, and accounting teams to resolve issues, maintain accurate purchasing data, and support operational efficiency.

Reports to: Purchasing Manager

Employment Type: Full-time, hourly

Responsibilities:

Purchasing & Forecasting

• Forecast demand and place purchase orders to maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Maintain and manage min/max settings, drop-ship, and overbuy reports.
• Execute stock, project, and backorder purchase orders while balancing inventory turns, cost, and service levels.
• Conduct ad-hoc buy-up analyses in response to pricing or market changes.

Order & Vendor Management

• Review and validate vendor order acknowledgments for accuracy in pricing, quantities, and terms.
• Negotiate with vendors to improve pricing and overall purchasing conditions.
• Monitor vendor performance and maintain productive long-term relationships.

Inventory Optimization

• Identify and rebalance slow-moving or excess inventory through returns or transfers.
• Coordinate stock adjustments or reworks with vendors when necessary.

Operational Support

• Process and manage backorders.
• Resolve invoice discrepancies and support accounting with accurate purchasing data.
• Assist sales with purchasing-related inquiries and support warehouse receiving with order verification and issue resolution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with warehouse and customer service teams to resolve shortages, shipping discrepancies, inventory issues, and receiving concerns.
• Communicate purchasing updates and key vendor or product insights for internal newsletters or company updates.

Qualifications:

• 3 + years of experience in the door hardware industry
• Solid working knowledge of commercial door hardware.
• Fluent with min/max or reorder-point logic; Excel/Sheets power user.
• ERP experience (D365, SAP, NetSuite, or similar).
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel
• Comfortable communicating with factory reps, accounting, and warehouse teams.