Purchasing Specialist

Description

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at a place where company culture is really important?

Well, at Ahaus, it's the lens through which we view everything we do. In addition to great wages and benefits, we offer a supportive, family-first work environment that you won't find anywhere else. The average tenure of our phenomenal team of 100+ talented individuals is 10+ years, and we've got several folks who have been with us for 40+ years and counting- we believe that in itself speaks volumes. We couldn't be prouder of our team.

Thanks to the hard work of our team through the years, we're getting ready to celebrate our 80th anniversary. We've grown from a small tooling shop in a backyard here in Richmond, Indiana to a $25M+ tooling, engineering and custom automation firm- throughout that growth though, we've never lost our small business feel, where our leaders truly care about the people working for them and it shows. Sometimes our customers come to us looking for a specific production need and an idea of how to address it, and sometimes we hear the challenge and jump in from a blank slate to create the perfect solution.

Ahaus is well known for flexible start times Monday through Friday, generous paid time off, paid holidays, employee recognition and incentives, volunteer and outreach events, employee breakfasts and barbeques, pitch-ins, summer games, company outings, shared hobbies, and many other perks. It's precisely why Ahaus enjoys a reputation as a place people want to be.

Our people love their hobbies; from building cars, tractors, firearms, and robots to marksmanship and trap shooting, axe throwing, winemaking, cycling, restoring old furniture, music, and the arts. We have a team of diversely talented, skilled tradespeople, and we are always looking to welcome new talent if it's a good fit, not just for our organization, but for the prospective candidate too. If you're a team player who is looking for not just a job, but a place that you can build a long-term career, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for an Purchasing Specialist, who with a little help in getting acclimated to our systems, can hit the ground running. If you're a team player, with skills and experience that align with the functions below, we would like to hear from you.

PRIMARY FUNCTION:

The Procurement Assistant partners with outside suppliers and internal teams to help ensure materials and services are purchased accurately, delivered on time, and aligned with production schedules.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

• Organizes and prepares print packages for outsourced manufacturing activities.  
• Manages the purchase requisition process to ensure timely procurement of materials and services.  
• Prepares and distributes Requests for Quotation (RFQ) packages to qualified vendors.  
• Compile, summarize, and organize vendor quotations to support purchasing decisions.  
• Communicates with vendors to confirm purchase orders and ensure order accuracy through written and verbal communication.  
• Monitors, confirms, and expedites vendor deliveries to support production schedules.  
• Maintains the vendor database by entering and updating supplier information, capabilities, and searchable keywords.  
• Communicates with Ahaus team members regarding the status of outsourced components and job orders.  
• Generates and distributes purchasing, outsourcing, and job-related reports for management as needed.  
• Performs electronic and paper filing, document management, and data entry with accuracy and attention to detail.  
• Assists with receiving and verifying outsourced components as needed.  
• Provide general administrative, telephone, and reception support as needed. 
• Performs all job duties in a safe manner ensuring compliance with established safety procedures, PPE requirements, good housekeeping, and safety incident reporting requirements  
• Champions and models Ahaus’ core values in daily actions and decision-making  
• Fosters a respectful, accountable, and collaborative team environment  
• Exhibits regular and predictable attendance  
• Other duties as assigned that may be required 

Requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Associate's degree in business, supply chain management, operations, or a related field is preferred; however, equivalent experience considered. 
• 3-5+ years of experience in an administrative purchasing, manufacturing, or supply chain support role working with ERP systems such as Epicor or similar manufacturing software. 
• Experience processing purchase orders, maintaining supplier information, or coordinating inventory replenishment.  
• Knowledge of purchasing, inventory control, or supply chain principles.  
• Experience working with engineering drawings, bills of material (BOMs), or manufactured components.  
• Familiarity with Microsoft Excel functions such as sorting, filtering, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP.  
• Strong customer service mindset with both internal and external customers.  
• Excellent problem-solving and critical thinking skills.  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.  
• Strong follow-up skills and sense of urgency.  
• Ability to prioritize changing workloads with minimal supervision.  
• Effective negotiation and vendor communication skills appropriate for a support role.  
• Continuous improvement mindset with a willingness to identify process efficiencies. 

WORKING CONDITIONS  

• Primarily works in a professional office environment with frequent interaction throughout the manufacturing facility.  
• Regularly communicates with suppliers, team members, and other departments via phone, email, and in person.  
• May be exposed to typical manufacturing conditions including noise, moving equipment, and varying temperatures when visiting production areas.  
• Requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and use hands for computer and office equipment operation throughout the workday. 
• Requires frequent use of a computer, keyboard, telephone, and other standard office equipment.  
• Must be able to occasionally lift and carry office materials or packages weighing up to 25 pounds.  
• Requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.  
• Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses and safety-toed footwear, is required when entering designated production areas.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Ahaus Tool & Engineering, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.