Purchasing Agent at Conestoga Wood Specialties in East Earl, PA

Purchasing Agent

Reporting to the Purchasing Manager, Commodities, the Purchasing Agent supports day-to-day purchasing of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies, parts and services. This entry-level position prepares purchase orders, follows up with suppliers and maintains accurate purchasing records. Training and guidance will be provided to develop knowledge of Conestoga’s materials, suppliers, systems and procedures, including sourcing and negotiations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Prepare and place purchase orders after verifying requirements, pricing and required approvals.
• Confirm order quantities, pricing and delivery dates with suppliers; monitor open orders and follow up on overdue deliveries.
• Coordinate with Maintenance and Operations to understand needs and communicate delivery delays or availability concerns promptly.
• Obtain and compare supplier quotes; assist with sourcing, pricing negotiations and larger purchases under the Purchasing Manager’s guidance.
• Assist with identifying, documenting and tracking cost savings opportunities.
• Coordinate new supplier setup with Accounts Payable and maintain accurate supplier and item records, pricing and lead times.
• Work with Accounts Payable, Receiving and suppliers to resolve invoice and receipt discrepancies.
• Coordinate supplier quality follow-up, returns, replacements and credits for damaged or defective items; escalate unresolved issues.
• Help monitor supplier delivery, quality and service performance.
• Coordinate supplier service requests and report service interruptions to the appropriate internal personnel.
• Assist Maintenance and inventory personnel with reviewing slow-moving and obsolete parts.
• Cross-train within Supply Chain and assist with purchasing at other Conestoga sites as needed.

Job Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; business or supply chain coursework, an Associate Degree or relevant certification is a plus.
• Willingness to learn purchasing processes, technical parts and materials; prior purchasing experience is not required.
• Effective verbal and written communication with suppliers and internal customers.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and follow-through; ability to manage competing requests.
• Ability to compare quotes, work accurately with numbers and develop negotiation skills.
• Sound judgment within purchasing policies and approval limits, with willingness to seek guidance.
• Working knowledge of Outlook and Word and basic Excel spreadsheet skills; ability to learn purchasing software.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Uphold Conestoga’s values, vision and mission through integrity, respect, accountability, resourcefulness and innovation.