Corporate Purchasing Agent at Great Dane in Chicago, IL

Summary: Great Dane is a leading manufacturer of transportation solutions, specializing in dry-freight vans and trailers. They are seeking a Corporate Purchasing Agent responsible for procuring materials from approved suppliers, developing ordering strategies, and ensuring inventory accuracy across production locations. Responsibilities: - Regularly report out clear to build status for assigned materials and components. Highlight risks or shortages and collaborate with corporate buyers to mitigate risks - Develop and implement plant level strategies to optimize inventory turnover rates and reduce excess and obsolete inventory. Share best practices with peers within facility and other manufacturing locations - Analyze purchasing and consumption trends and work with corporate buyer to establish safety stock levels, minimum order quantities, and recurring orders - Monitor open work orders and ensure they are dispositioned in a timely manner to not negatively affect inventory - Assist corporate buyer and accounts payable department with invoice reconciliation efforts - Work with corporate logistics to schedule material delivery prior to line start - Perform audits on assigned materials/components to verify locations and quantities are accurate - Assist in determining whether excess inventory is subject to redistribution, substitution, or disposal - Issue request for deviation or substitutions and implement approvals, advise stakeholders of status - Assist with the processing of defective material, returns, scrap, and miscellaneous inventory adjustments - Work closely with production personnel and other departments regarding potential material issues such as delays, substitutions, vendor problems and shortages - Collaborate with other Supply Chain staff to ensure effective use of inventory, and ensuring material are received at the right time, right material, right quantity for line consumption - Own inventory accuracy for all assigned materials and components, schedule regular cycle counts and reconcile to ensure accuracy for assigned parts and notify management of discrepancy - Attend weekly safety meetings and communicate relevant topics to individual team members - Other duties as assigned Required Qualifications: - Education: Bachelor's degree in related discipline preferred - Experience: 1-3-years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education, training - Skills: Strong organizational skills and attention to detail - Strong customer service orientation and ability to maintain a professional, friendly demeanor - Solid ability in identifying and resolving problems in a timely, effective manner - Strong verbal, written and interpersonal skills - Must have general knowledge of purchasing concepts - Travel: Travel to manufacturing facilities will be expected 25% Preferred Qualifications: - CPP or CPPM preferred not required - Manufacturing experience is a plus Required Skills: Purchasing concepts, Problem resolution, Organizational skills Important Skills: Customer service, Manufacturing experience Nice-to-Have Skills: Bachelor’s degree, CPP, CPPM, Verbal communication, Written communication, Interpersonal skills, Attention to detail Benefits: Benefits, including but not limited to dental, vision, and medical with employer contributions, Retirement programs, including a Pension Plan and 401(k) Plan with employer match, Tuition Reimbursement, Paid holidays and vacation, And more!