Lead Purchasing Associate

QXO•Savage, MD

6d•$74,000 - $110,700

About The Position

As a Lead Purchasing Associate at QXO, you’ll serve as an experienced purchasing resource responsible for complex supplier and purchasing activities while providing day-to-day guidance to other team members. You’ll manage purchase orders, supplier issues, availability, pricing, and replenishment needs while helping improve purchasing accuracy, responsiveness, and process consistency. This hands-on lead role combines advanced purchasing knowledge with supplier coordination, analytical problem-solving, and team support without requiring formal people-management responsibility. Work is performed primarily in a professional corporate, branch, or distribution environment, with frequent computer, purchasing-system, supplier communication, analytical, and collaborative work. The position involves regular interaction with Purchasing, Procurement, Inventory, Operations, Finance, Sales, and branch teams. Occasional travel or visits to company locations may be required, and required PPE must be worn when entering designated operational areas. Extended hours may occasionally be required during supply disruptions, seasonal periods, or critical purchasing activity.

Requirements

Strong purchasing and supplier-management knowledge.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex purchase orders and supplier issues.
Strong understanding of purchasing, inventory, and replenishment processes.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to identify supply risks and develop practical solutions.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to purchasing accuracy.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong supplier and stakeholder relationship-management abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to provide technical guidance and support to others.
Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
Ability to lead through influence without formal supervisory authority.
Experience with ERP, purchasing, and inventory-management systems.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods.
Required PPE must be worn when entering designated operational areas.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field preferred.
3–5 years of progressive purchasing, supply chain, procurement, inventory, or related experience preferred.
Previous experience as a senior purchasing resource, trainer, mentor, or informal lead preferred.
Experience within distribution, building materials, manufacturing, or a related industry preferred.
CPIM, CSCP, CPSM, or related certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

Manage complex purchasing activity across assigned suppliers, products, or business areas.
Review and process high-value, time-sensitive, or complex purchase orders.
Monitor open purchase orders, supplier confirmations, lead times, and product availability.
Resolve escalated purchasing issues involving pricing, shortages, substitutions, delivery delays, or order discrepancies.
Partner with Inventory Planning and Replenishment teams to support product availability and appropriate inventory levels.
Analyze supplier lead times, purchasing trends, and order performance.
Identify potential supply risks and communicate concerns to appropriate stakeholders.
Coordinate expedited purchasing activity for urgent customer or operational requirements.
Review supplier acknowledgments and ensure terms align with purchase order requirements.
Support resolution of receiving, invoice, and pricing discrepancies.
Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier information within ERP and purchasing systems.
Serve as a day-to-day resource for Purchasing Coordinators and other team members.
Provide guidance on purchasing procedures, supplier communication, and issue resolution.
Assist with onboarding, training, and cross-training of team members.
Help coordinate team workload and purchasing priorities.
Develop and maintain purchasing procedures, job aids, and documentation.
Prepare and analyze purchasing reports and supplier-performance data.
Identify opportunities to improve purchasing processes, order accuracy, and supplier communication.
Support supplier evaluations and performance reviews as appropriate.
Partner with Procurement, Inventory, Operations, Sales, Finance, and branch teams.
Support system enhancements, testing, and purchasing technology improvements.
Perform additional duties and projects as assigned.