Vendor Management & Purchasing Specialist

Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I.•Merrill, WI

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This hybrid position requires in-office work Tuesday through Thursday at one of the listed office locations: Merrill, Wisconsin (preferred), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, or Madison, Wisconsin. The Vendor Management & Purchasing Specialist serves as a liaison between Procurement and business units on vendor management and purchasing responsibilities. The role facilitates vendor onboarding and contract evaluation and approval, tracks vendor performance and compliance, purchases goods and services at the best available price and service level, researches alternatives, and serves as a subject matter expert for procurement-owned systems and processes.

Requirements

At least three years of experience in purchasing or working with vendors.
Experience utilizing procurement and purchase order systems.
Bachelor's degree required; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
Effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to deal effectively with internal and external customers.
Ability to investigate and resolve issues.
Detail-oriented, with good judgment and the ability to make appropriate decisions.
Ability to interact with multiple departments and employees at all organizational levels.
Ability to work with limited supervision and meet deadlines.
Strong Microsoft Word and Excel capabilities.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with frequent changes.
Ability to collaborate with team members and treat others with dignity and respect.
Ability to influence, negotiate, collaborate, and achieve consensus with key stakeholders.
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across organizational levels and with external parties.
Significant experience collaborating across organizational boundaries and building partnerships across functions.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment and meet deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in the insurance industry.
Experience supporting procurement technology, purchase order workflows, invoice matching, receiving processes, and supplier data management.
Experience with Unit4.

Responsibilities

Facilitate vendor onboarding for assigned business units using the vendor management system.
Evaluate vendor contract terms, make recommendations, and review contracts for savings potential.
Facilitate resolution of contract terms among vendors, the Legal department, and business units.
Follow up with vendors to obtain documentation needed to complete onboarding.
Ensure vendor performance and compliance are evaluated before contract renewals for assigned business units.
Initiate purchases of goods and services from vendors.
Research alternative vendors, products, and services to drive organizational savings.
Obtain required documentation to initiate vendor payments and review for goods or services delivered but not receipted in the procurement system.
Assist with creating and administering supplier requests for proposals (RFPs).
Reconcile corporate purchasing card transactions and Amazon account purchases, and provide supporting documentation to Accounting, including general ledger coding for G/L upload.
Support and administer procurement systems, including purchase order management, vendor onboarding, supplier data maintenance, reporting, and user support.
Assist employees with procurement processes, roles, and responsibilities.