Purchasing Specialist

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented Procurement Specialist to support purchasing activities for Research & Development (R&D) projects. This role will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing materials, equipment, supplies, and services; processing and tracking purchase orders; coordinating with suppliers; and ensuring the timely delivery of materials needed to support business and project objectives.

The ideal candidate will have experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or a related administrative function, with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and process purchase orders for R&D materials, equipment, supplies, and services.
• Work closely with R&D and cross-functional teams to understand material requirements and purchasing priorities.
• Source products and obtain quotations from approved suppliers.
• Communicate with suppliers regarding pricing, product availability, purchase order acknowledgments, order status, and shipment schedules.
• Track open purchase orders and proactively follow up on delayed or outstanding orders.
• Confirm and communicate expected delivery dates to internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate with suppliers to expedite critical or time-sensitive orders when necessary.
• Create, maintain, and update vendor master data records.
• Support supplier onboarding by collecting required documentation and maintaining accurate vendor information.
• Conduct periodic reviews and updates of vendor records to support data accuracy and procurement compliance.
• Help identify and resolve supply, delivery, and purchasing issues.
• Support invoice reconciliation and resolution of receiving or purchase order discrepancies as needed.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation.
• Perform other procurement and purchasing-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Procurement, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• 2–4 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, buying, or related administrative support.
• Internship or co-op experience in procurement or supply chain is a plus.
• Experience supporting engineering, manufacturing, laboratory, or R&D organizations is preferred.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Experience with purchase order creation and tracking.
• Strong vendor and supplier communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Basic understanding of purchasing and procurement processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel.
• Experience with ERP or purchasing systems preferred; SAP experience is a plus.
• Strong customer-service mindset and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with supplier management and vendor onboarding.
• Experience tracking purchase orders and delivery commitments.
• Knowledge of inventory, logistics, or supply chain fundamentals.
• Experience supporting R&D, engineering, manufacturing, or technical teams.
• Experience with invoice reconciliation or receiving discrepancy resolution.

Work Environment

This position requires strong collaboration with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and cross-functional teams. The successful candidate must be organized, proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple purchasing activities simultaneously.