Purchasing Assistant

Max Distributing•Little Rock, AR

9d•$18 - $23

About The Position

We are seeking a highly organized, detail‑oriented, and proactive individual to join our team in a cross‑functional operations and vendor support role. This position plays an essential role in purchasing, inventory management, vendor coordination, and internal sales support. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast‑paced environment, communicates professionally across teams, and is comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

Requirements

Proactive mindset with a positive, team‑oriented attitude
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage professionally with internal teams and external vendors
Highly organized and detail‑oriented with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities
Proficient in Excel or willing to learn quickly
Confident, adaptable, and comfortable wearing multiple hats
Ability to negotiate effectively when required

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting sales teams and/or operations in a fast‑paced environment
Willingness to collaborate with cross‑functional partners including Sales, Marketing, IT, and Warehouse Operations
Flexibility to travel up to 20% to support tradeshows and customer events

Responsibilities

Submit purchase orders for identified products from the daily watch list
Conduct warehouse walk‑throughs or review potential product distributions prior to submitting purchase orders
Pull daily inventory and open PO reports from Company ERP Software
Submit orders received via Distribution Forms
Review, document, and report daily issues impacting inventory levels or order fulfillment
Communicate daily with vendors to obtain Bills of Lading (BOL) and tracking information
Provide open PO status updates to the sales team three times per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Process vendor setup documentation for new vendor opportunities
Communicate vendor out‑of‑stock notifications to key stakeholders on a weekly basis
Manage vendor credits related to expired or out‑of‑code products
Manage product setup and maintenance within Company ERP Software
Ship product samples to sales teams or customers as requested
Coordinate new item communications with sales teams and vendors
Liaise with the warehouse to resolve receiving discrepancies and confirm daily product receipts
Update the product catalog monthly in collaboration with Marketing and IT to ensure website accuracy
Review sales trends across key categories using internal reporting tools
Support planogram development by sourcing required products or materials
Coordinate the shipment of products and support materials for tradeshows and events
Travel to and support up to two industry tradeshows annually (potential locations include Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, Atlanta, and New York)
Provide support to the call center by sharing timely product and inventory updates when needed
Assist with product force‑outs and special projects as required