• Orders and expedites all materials and components for engineered projects, pilot projects and production/service inventory (stock).• Updates bills of materials as needed with price and part differences.• Works with vendors on delivery timing related to project timelines• Determines the quantity and timing of deliveries. • Notify Engineering, Production, and Project Management about component delays.• Maintains records of goods ordered and received. • Arranges for disposal of surplus materials. • Updates and rectifies purchase orders to reflect accounting reports.• Coordinates shipping for projects and pilot shipments with carriers and riggers. • Assesses, manages, and processes “Project Management Requests” in a timely manner.• Performs light accounting tasks, such as data entry and AP invoice application.• Creates Weekly reporting on invocming goods values and timng of those resources• Creates Quarterly reporting for Management on ISO Standards for Vendor Standards and related concerns.• Maintains the supplier database.• Works to improve purchasing systems and processes.• Returns goods as needed.• Orders office supplies.

Assists the Purchasing Department with various tasks related to bills of materials, vendor management, and product ordering. The Associate Buyer also performs light administrative tasks for the department.Primary Job Functions & Responsibilities • Orders and expedites all materials and components for engineered projects, pilot projects and production/service inventory (stock).• Updates bills of materials as needed with price and part differences.• Contacts vendors about future and late deliveries generated from Open Order Reports.• Determines the quantity and timing of deliveries. • Notify Engineering, Production, and Project Management about component delays.• Maintains records of goods ordered and received. • Arranges for disposal of surplus materials. • Updates and rectifies purchase orders to reflect accounting reports.• Coordinates all project and pilot shipments with carriers and riggers. • Assesses, manages, and processes all “Project Management Requests” in a timely manner.• Performs light accounting tasks, such as data entry and AP invoice application.• Monitors inventory levels and replenish stock as needed. • Maintains the supplier database.• Works to improve purchasing systems and processes.• Saves order confirmations from vendors.• Returns goods as needed.• Orders office supplies and shop stock.• Provide backup when Buyer is unavailable

Purchase and oversee general materials required for office and warehouse operations. Create and track orders for internally designed corrugate displays placed at major national retailers.Coordinate with Planning Department to assess necessary materials for upcoming projects.Cross-trained with Order Administration and Planning Department to ensure coverage of vital tasks Evaluate materials use to maintain accurate minimum stock levelsSolicit and manage bids for services. Worked with vendor partners to achieve maximum discount for volume purchases and best overall costFacilities management role – point of contact with contracted Cleaning Agency and building landlords for 2 facilities,

Scheduled and supported recurring meetings for workflow process in three National Brand divisions; Beauty, Healthcare & Grocery, as well as breakout sessions for the 25 departments with these categories.Scheduled large scale Training sessions and Transition Execution meetings for up to 110 attendees.Utilized Division’s 2016 calendars to update and create meetings in 2015 to assist Merchants in hitting their various milestones and execution points.Scheduled recurring meetings for Merchandise Process Sr. Group Managers and Business Process Mangers through the end of 2015. Transmitted meeting recaps and training decks to attendees and gave reference for additional information sites on company intranet. Linked documents and training decks to the company intranet and Wiki sites. Maintain record of scheduled trainings and meeting, noting changes as well as adding or removing attendees as staff changes occur.Monitored five generic email inboxes for meeting requests, invitation responses, and questions; determining who is the correct person or group to respond from the Merch Process department.

Confirmed purchase orders for price, quantity and delivery Proactively contacted vendors to assure expected shipment are on timeMonitored inbound freight Placed purchase orders as directed by Purchasing Manager

Contact with vendors regarding expediting shipment or resolving cost issuesResearched product discrepanciesProduced product data reporting as requested by category managerObtained product sourcing & production quotes

Purchased replenishment inventory for over 3000 active skus Researched product discrepanciesEvaluated down turning products for discontinuation.Produced product data reporting as requested by category managerContact with vendors regarding expediting shipment or resolving cost issues

Managed inventory in six categories; over 2800 active-replenishment skus—over 7400 skus with inventoryCategories comprised more than $2 million in inventory and annual sales of over $16 million Purchased and allocated merchandise within assigned categories weekly to fill sales needs while keeping costs contained within purchasing target.Forecasted products and determined allotment of needed materials for in store events and workshopsForecasted and managed inventory and analyzed results of monthly adhesive promotion while adhering to vendor required guidelinesCollaborated with category buyer to determine new product assortment and initial allocation.Executed store to store transfers to fill customer needs and stock balance Member of team that planned and executed annual ScrapFest®, a three-day convention-type event at the Mall of America. Reviewed vendor booth and class projects, increased and maintained store inventories, and worked on-site at ScrapFest. Approximately 4,000 people attended in 2011.

Responsible for order processing and item maintenance for 45 store chain.Executed plan-o-gram layout and link to company intranet.Processed RTV’s (return to vendors) and inventory adjustments. Ensured accurate store submission and compliance.Produced sales reports for category, group, department, and vendors and submitted to buyers, planners, and merchandise manager.Worked with vendors on order processing, shipping, timelines, quality control issues, product samples, and return to vendors.Key store contact related to orders and product support.

Responsible for guest assistance by answering questions, directing customers, cashiering, and providing product information.Received truck shipments, stocked, merchandised products and handled store-to-store transfer of merchandise.Built displays to plan-o-gram or created displays with available products.Also served as Temporary Assistant Manager at a closing location for 8 months performing Manager on Duty shifts, driving sales, reporting merchandise outages to corporate, supervising 4 direct reports/18 total associates. Training new hires.

Managed $300,000 in inventory for Internet site and retail partnersInsured availability on featured and promoted productReviewed incoming product data and images to maintain accuracy on site and in archiveDeveloped standards and protocols for data entryManaged flow of data to vendors and business partnersManaged product related interactions with customersCoordinated data requirements and structure for launch of redesigned siteInteraction with Warehouse Manager to insure accuracy of shipments and inventory levelsInteraction with Business Manager on vendor related accounting

Created and maintained Microsoft Access based buying & inventory systemManaged $500,000 in inventory for 200 store OnCue chainReview new product presentations for all Musicland Group strategies within categoryMet with vendor representatives on allotments and inventory levelsImplemented revision of distribution network to OnCue storesDeveloped criteria to monitor sales in stores receiving new fixturingTravel to On-Cue stores and magazine related trade shows

Manage department title data Update title data from vendor source files and correspondenceReview data files from vendors for accuracy and match to internal database for point of sale scanning detail and accounts resolutionResearch data discrepanciesReport to stores monthly on changes to title dataProduce quarterly information on available or promoted products for Barnes & Noble and B. Dalton storesTravel to train store based personnel on procedures and merchandising techniques