Purchasing Specialist

Purchasing Specialist

The Purchasing Specialist works under the direct supervision of the Purchasing Manager, representing Ficosota to the community of raw materials and packaging suppliers. The Purchasing Specialist works closely with Production, R&D and Marketing departments to identify company requirements, select suppliers that deliver a competitive advantage to the firm, coordinates the purchasing process, serves as a subject matter expert for all purchasing-related policies and procedures and the company demand for raw materials and packaging.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates the purchasing process including quality assurance of the delivered raw materials and packaging, price negotiation, business terms development, approval of orders, and invoice settlements.
• Understands well, analyzes and utilizes opportunities for leveraging of size, scale, long-term business development, company-wide needs. Fosters competition among suppliers, ensures appropriate leverage is utilized, lowest price and best value is consistently achieved. Explores new opportunities for cost savings/reduction through market, usage, and product analysis.
• Identifies opportunities for company-wide procurement strategies, streamlining processes, policies and procedures. Leverages agreements across the enterprise, promotes cost savings and reductions where possible;
• Develops and maintains high level of expertise in specific raw material and packaging areas, acquires and uses in-depth knowledge of the industry, its competitive dynamics, technological and product trends, the suppliers and their capabilities.
• Maintains supportive relationships and communicates regularly with suppliers and procurement sources, while locating, researching and expanding supplier base. Tracks and analyzes vendor performance, pricing, delivery cycles etc. and provides feedback where applicable.
• Manages supply chain risk of the raw materials. Negotiates pricing and business terms and coordinate purchase effort with Legal Department to minimize risk.
• Coordinates the purchasing process through gathering of requirements, solicitation of bids, preparation of scorecard, recommendations of sources, history of orders and archival of appropriate documentation.
• Creates purchase orders, track open order status, and coordinates with internal departments to insure receipt, payment and asset tracking information is accurate.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor degree is required. Master degree is an advantage.

At least 2 years of experience in a corporate environment.

Excellent communication and rhetoric skills.

Excellent use of logic and reasoning; analytical skills.

Good ability to remain calm and think quickly under pressure. Experience in negotiation and project management is an advantage.

Excellent organizational skills. Good ability to handle multiple concurrent tasks and manage priorities.

Good knowledge of Microsoft Office. Proficiency in Excel is an advantage.

Excellent English and Bulgarian language skills are required.

Driving license – experienced driver