Business Essentials, a wholly owned subsidiary of Office Depot is looking for a Purchasing Agent to join our in-office team at our Fridley, MN location. Founded over 100 years ago, Business Essentials is a Twin Cities leader in the sale of office supplies, office furniture and office services.

Business Essentials is a company that believes in the employee and cares about the employee's well being. We offer a very competitive salary and benefit package including generous paid time off, paid holidays, employee discounts, comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, a generous 401K employer match and more.

The Purchasing Agent will determine if inventory is on hand in sufficient quantity and are responsible for replenishing inventory in accordance with inventory management system and metrics. They update all pricing, interact with internal departments, and set-up new items as needed.

Responsibilities include:

• Monitor inventory, company-wide, for dead, overstock, and slow-moving inventory. Oversee and ensure dead and slow-moving inventory issues are resolved, liquidated, prevented. Coordinate disposition of such inventory.
• Determine most cost-effective wholesaler to source product from and ensure inventory levels are requested as needed.
• Review quantity discounts. Determine most efficient order quantity, balancing price brackets and order frequency.
• Work with inventory management system to achieve inventory goals. Monitor and maintain proper inventory levels for assigned vendors and items by reviewing backorder reports, inventory turn reports, and demand planning reports.
• Work with finance and warehouse manager on cycle count process and frequency of which items are counted; Ensure computer system deviated costs and contracts between vendors and customers are kept up to date.
• Perform timely maintenance and calculation of all price changes.
• Manage internal loads on products and report to finance
• Coordinate with representatives of assigned vendors to ensure proper inventory levels are being maintained and that slow moving inventory is returned.
• Daily review of special-order report to determine products to be purchased.
• Ensure all open purchase orders are updated with accurate E.T.A.’s. Regularly review open purchase orders and communicate with supplier to ensure timely receipt.
• Obtain purchase order acknowledgements from vendors and review for accuracy.
• Notify all departments and branches of price changes prior to effective date. Goal is 30 day minimum notice.
• Search for slow moving inventory and adjust purchasing levels and/or return or liquidate product to maintain proper inventory levels.
• Assist all customer support departments in resolution of customer problems and satisfaction of needs. Analyze discrepancies on problem vendor invoices.
• Research for customer service and sales personnel sourcing of special-order products.
• Respond to all damaged and short merchandise received by vendors.
• Set-up and assign items numbers for existing and new items.
• Calculate freight for deliveries and work with customers. Add freight charges to order and invoice the orders.
• Communicate with vendors, account executives, and customers regarding delays in delivery.
• Manage open purchase orders and work with finance on old open purchase orders.

Experience/Education

• 3 - 5 years purchasing or inventory control experience
• Good working knowledge of computer (ie excel, word, outlook, internet navigation and usage)
• Good mathematical and data entry skills (30 wpm).
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

Physical Demands (with or without accommodations)

• Ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer.
• Ability to walk or maneuver in the warehouse and office areas.
• Strong cognitive skills including reading, comprehension, attention to detail, and problem solving
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.

Other Qualifications

• Good verbal and written communication skills and problem-solving skills.
• Trustworthy, honest and respects confidentiality.
• Display a courteous and helpful attitude to provide a positive experience for our customers.