Procurement Assistant

stand out for good•Knoxville, TN

6d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly detail-oriented and business-savvy Procurement Assistant to join our team. This role is critical in driving the success of our windows, activations, and experiential projects by managing procurement operations, planning allocations, vendor relationships, and ensuring strict budget adherence. The Procurement Assistant will play a key role in analyzing financial data, optimizing logistics, and supporting procurement strategies that balance cost, quality, and timing.

Requirements

Degree in , Finance, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.
2+ years of procurement, supply chain, or financial planning experience.
Advanced proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, lookups, macros, scenario modeling).
Strong financial and business acumen with experience in budget management.
Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines with attention to detail.
Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional partners and external vendors.

Nice To Haves

Experience in retail, experiential design, or consumer-facing industries.
Familiarity with procurement dashboards, ERP systems, or project management tools.
Knowledge of logistics carriers (LTL, FedEx, XPO, etc.) and shipping optimization.
Analytical thinker with the ability to turn data into actionable insights.
Proactive, resourceful, and able to anticipate business needs.

Responsibilities

Support sourcing, purchasing, and negotiations with vendors to ensure competitive pricing, quality standards, and on-time delivery.
Build and maintain strong vendor relationships while resolving issues related to product quality, lead times, or logistics.
Track and evaluate vendor performance against cost, service, and compliance metrics.
Maintain accurate and organized purchase records, contracts, and agreements.
Partner with cross-functional teams to determine allocation plans that align with seasonal strategies and project timelines.
Coordinate the distribution of assets across stores, balancing business needs with available budget and supply.
Conduct case-pack and linear footage analysis to ensure accurate allocation and inventory optimization.
Assist with annual and seasonal budget planning, tracking actual vs. planned spend.
Conduct variance analysis and provide insights on cost savings, overages, and ROI.
Prepare financial reports and dashboards for store review.
Partner with finance and internal teams to ensure fiscal discipline.
Manage and update procurement dashboards with metrics such as shipping costs, damages/missing items, and replacements.
Perform time-study analysis for store installations to forecast labor hours and cost efficiency.
Create data models in Excel to analyze trends and provide recommendations.
Manage logistics of shipping, freight, and delivery schedules to ensure timely arrivals of materials and activations.
Coordinate packing specifications and monitor quality checks for store installations.
Troubleshoot delays and propose proactive solutions to mitigate risks.