Assistant Purchasing Agent Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Purchasing Specialist is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and negotiating materials, equipment, supplies, and services to support business and manufacturing operations. This role evaluates supplier pricing, quality, service, and delivery performance to identify the best overall value. The position also manages purchase orders, monitors supplier deliveries, supports inventory management, and helps maintain strong supplier relationships.

The Purchasing Specialist works closely with internal departments and suppliers to ensure purchasing activities are completed accurately, efficiently, and in accordance with quality and operational requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Source, price, negotiate, and purchase materials, supplies, equipment, and services in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotes based on price, quality, lead time, service, and other purchasing requirements.
• Create and manage purchase orders while ensuring pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery requirements are accurate.
• Track supplier deliveries and proactively address late shipments, shortages, pricing discrepancies, quality concerns, and other order-related issues.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records, including supplier information, costs, delivery dates, product quality and performance, and inventory data.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support operational needs while minimizing excess inventory.
• Conduct monthly inventory counts accurately and within established timelines.
• Assist with identifying and coordinating the disposition of obsolete, excess, damaged, or unusable materials and supplies.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, operations, and other departments to ensure purchase requests and purchase orders contain complete and accurate information.
• Participate in supplier performance reviews and assist with maintaining the Approved Supplier List.
• Research market conditions, supplier capabilities, product developments, and industry trends to support informed purchasing decisions.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, improved lead times, and purchasing process improvements.
• Recommend purchasing policies, procedures, processes, or systems to management as appropriate.
• Provide backup support to other members of the Manufacturing Support team as needed.
• Understand and fulfill purchasing responsibilities within the organization's Quality Management System and applicable ISO requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of one year of purchasing, procurement, or related experience preferred, ideally within a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of paper products or related materials is preferred.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate supplier quotations, pricing, contracts, and purchasing data.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with suppliers, coworkers, and management at all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize, plan, schedule, and manage multiple purchasing activities and deadlines.
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy in purchase orders, pricing, inventory records, and supplier documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and general computer-based business systems.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Experience working within an ISO-certified or quality-controlled manufacturing environment is a plus.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly required to work at a computer and remain seated for extended periods.
• Occasionally required to lift or move materials weighing 50 pounds or more.
• Occasional physical activities may include pushing, pulling, bending, reaching, kneeling, stooping, and climbing stairs or ladders.
• May occasionally be required to operate mechanical equipment or motor vehicles in accordance with applicable training and safety requirements.

Labor Solutions, LLC is a leader in the professional, temporary, and direct hire industry throughout the Midwest area. Our clients range from individual entrepreneurs to large corporations, and while we are big enough to serve Fortune 100 companies, we are small enough to stay nimble in an always-changing market.

Thank you!