Purchasing Specialist

Bakelite•Columbus, OH

11d

About The Position

Purchasing Specialist: The Impact You’ll Have On The Organization and World You will be responsible for ethical procurement, cost optimization, vendor management, and compliance with corporate initiatives for indirects as well as some raw materials. It's Better with Bakelite: Our Commitment Back to You You’ll Help Shape Our Future. As a Bakelite associate, you’re part of a diverse, global population creating the next generation of the company and we expect you to put your fingerprint on it. We Champion Our Associates. At Bakelite, you don’t just climb the career ladder – you pave your personal path through continued learning and development. Together, We Will Protect the Planet. From our processes to our products, we are focusing on the opportunities that both grow our profitability as a company, and improve and protect the planet. Safety is a Core Value. At Bakelite, safety is a 24/7 mindset. We are all safe today to ensure we are able to show up tomorrow – for our families and friends, for each other and for our communities. We Care. Plain and simple, we care about our associates. From the top on down, we place a high value on our culture and the associate experience. We offer competitive compensation, robust benefits and support our associates every step of their career.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field preferred.
3+ years in procurement, inventory management, or supply chain roles.
Proficiency in SAP, MS Office Suite; knowledge of P-card processes and vendor management systems.
Strong negotiation and analytical skills; excellent communication and relationship-building abilities; detail-oriented with a focus on compliance and cost optimization; ability to manage multiple priorities and work cross-functionally.

Nice To Haves

CPSM, or similar supply chain certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

Source parts, services, or raw materials from approved or reputable vendors, ensuring best value and adherence to company standards.
Create accurate purchase orders prior to commitments; verify pricing, quantities, and delivery dates.
Secure required agreements, insurance, and safety compliance for contractors.
Manage P-card purchases within policy; reconcile transactions monthly.
Resolve payable exceptions promptly to maintain vendor relationships.
Maintain vendor data and implement cost-saving strategies (e.g., mitigate price increases, leverage national suppliers, VMI, competitive bidding).
Participate in cross-functional teams to share best practices and support corporate agreements.
Transition applicable items to national suppliers.
Negotiate improved payment terms where possible.
Align with management on capital projects and spare parts requests.
Coordinate delivery and/or ship dates w/ schedulers for the respective sites and ensure these are included on the purchase order. Make adjustments as necessary w/ the vendors and/or sister sites.
Track shipments – particularly rail – to ensure timely deliveries and follow up w/ vendors should deliveries appear to be at risk. Communicate potential delays to Scheduler and Regional SC.
Complete all required training in DayForce timely.
Actively participate in team meetings and networking opportunities.
Identify and/or implement continuous improvement and cost reduction initiatives.