Purchasing Specialist

Job Description

About Guest Worldwide

Guest Worldwide is a global collective of dynamic, industry-leading companies with more than 40 years of unparalleled experience serving diverse markets worldwide. We provide full-spectrum hospitality and distribution solutions at Guest Supply®, manufacture award-winning personal care amenities at Gilchrist & Soames, and create smarter textile solutions at Manchester Mills. We are proud to provide products to more than 25,000 hotels in over 100 countries.

Guest Worldwide is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco – an industry-leading, global food and beverage distribution company, employing thousands worldwide and home to the 13th largest sales organization in the world. Learn more by visiting www.guestworldwide.com

Job Summary

This role is responsible for processing and ensuring timely product delivery for direct customer shipments, as well as regularly monitoring vendor pricing, availability, and terms. The successful candidate will serve as a direct contact for a sales organization of 200+ Territory Managers, providing crucial information such as order status, pricing and freight quotes, tracking details, return requests, delivery discrepancies, and proof of deliveries.

Responsibilities

• Provide status on orders, tracking information, pricing quotations, freight quotations, proof of deliveries, return requests, and product suggestions to Territory Managers and regional Customer Service Representatives.
• Review and process direct ship customer orders, verifying vendor details, pricing, freight term codes, lead times, and product availability.
• Conduct routine follow-up with suppliers regarding the status of open orders to ensure timely fulfillment.
• Work closely with the Accounts Payable Department to reduce and eliminate vendor invoice discrepancies, collaborating with problematic suppliers to prevent future errors.
• Request quotes from multiple carriers to secure the lowest price, passing these savings on to the customer base and providing freight quotations to the sales force for customer quotes.
• Monitor vendor deliveries to ensure direct customer shipments are delivered on time, communicating potential out-of-stock situations to the sales force and collaborating with marketing to find suitable substitutes.

Qualifications

Education

• High School Diploma required.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

Experience

• 2-4 years of work experience.
• Buyer or purchasing experience is a plus.

Skills

• Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal, and professional interactive skills necessary to perform at a high degree of proficiency.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from suppliers, customers, management, and inter-department staff.
• Capable of working with internal staff from other departments in a proactive and constructive manner.
• Customer Service: Respond promptly to requests for service and assistance as needed, and follow up effectively.
• Planning / Organization: Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities/deadlines, shifting priorities as necessary, and uses time effectively.
• Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, and develops alternative solutions.
• Judgment: Displays willingness to make decisions, exhibits sound and accurate judgment, and makes timely decisions.
• Professionalism: Approaches others in a tactful manner, reacts well under pressure, and follows through on commitments.
• Detail Oriented: Strong attention to details and accuracy.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with vendors and customers.
• Proficient use of PeopleSoft, MS Windows, and Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook).

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

• Normal office environment – working conditions are safe and conducive to efficiency, creativity, and productivity.
• The noise level in the work environment is moderate.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and telephone to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms.
• The position normally requires a 40-hour work week, with potential for overtime and limited travel on occasion.