Purchasing Manager

As a leading manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and equipment for healthcare simulation and education, Pocket Nurse provides solutions and services that create hands-on learning experiences for the next generation of healthcare professionals. Our small business philosophy is, “Use your best judgement every day.” Not only do we give team members the guidance and tools to succeed, we give them autonomy to do their best for the company to succeed.

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for creating and managing a purchasing strategy that utilizes appropriate vendors for sourcing goods and services while maximizing company product margins and balancing customer satisfaction.   

This position requires self-initiative. This individual can react and adjust quickly to changing conditions and come up with practical ideas for dealing with them. Challenges and pressures must be handled with confidence and determination. This position requires an incisive communicator with the ability to influence others while being firm and direct. There is a strong demand for high quality, organized and repeatable results.

Key Responsibilities and other duties as assigned:

• Develops, analyzes and executes purchasing strategies ensuring pricing, terms, delivery, and compliance are met based on forecasting provided by Supply Chain for demand levels.
• Negotiates with vendors to source products that meet our customer needs, margin goals and sales strategies.
• Determines timing of deliveries and collaborates with domestic suppliers to balance availability, cost, and delivery. Shifts to back-up vendors when delivery or costs becomes a concern. 
• Reviews product offerings and promotional recommendations based on vendor negotiations, customer trends and margin analysis.
• Manages the relationships with vendors, conducts regular business reviews and holds vendors accountable for mutual business goals.
• Creates catalog offerings and reviews with Director of Marketing and VP of Sales Operations.
• Performs cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking reports and provides functional metrics to reduce costs and improve effectiveness.
• Reviews bid proposals and negotiates contracts within budget and scope of authority to ensure that all purchases are within company requirements and regulations. 
• Leads the Product and Pricing Evaluation Committee meetings to determine the feasibility of adding new products to the offering.  Work with Sales to determine forecasting and sourcing vendors to ensure products will meet minimum profit margins.
• Works with affiliated company to maximize buying power of both companies to improve margins for both companies.
• Monitors company’s ability to sell supplier products in foreign markets and to ensure company is adhering to supplier distribution agreements.
• Manages Purchasing and Returns Teams to ensure:
• Appropriate vendors are selected to purchase product.
• Problem identification and correction related to orders including pricing (COGS), due dates, delivery, and quality by alerting vendors of problems or discrepancies.
• Assistance with sales team in getting freight quotes and coordinating delivery between supplier and customer.
• All necessary information is provided on the New Product Form for all Domestic stock items.
• Master Data has product images and descriptions, unit of measure, pricing, SDS, Country of Origin, NAFTA, Prop 65 or any other identified information accurately and timely.
• Research product substitutions for functional comparability, cost and availability.
• Vendor price changes are reported to Master Data, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service.
• Reporting on sales forecasting based on vendor estimated ship dates, vendor performance, and ad hoc requests from management.
• Quick response times in the returns department and report on reasons for returns to show where improvements can be made.

Travel:

• Travel is not core to this position but could be scheduled based on business needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversees Purchasing Agents, Purchasing Expeditor, and Returns team.
• Determines resource needs and ways to attract, retain and manage a highly functional team.
• Responsible for team’s time and schedule management, performance management and career development.
• Promotes a diverse, harassment-free work environment.
• Maintains a high level of confidentiality in all proprietary, planning, development or operation processes, procedures, products or documentation.

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