Purchasing Agent

Farmers & Builders Ace Hardware is looking for a dependable, organized, and analytical Purchasing Agent to help manage purchasing and inventory across our multi-location hardware and building-material operations.

This is an important position within our company. The Purchasing Agent will help ensure our stores have the products they need while controlling inventory investment, reducing stock-outs and excess inventory, and maintaining strong vendor relationships.

Responsibilities:

· Review inventory levels, sales history, and product demand to determine purchasing needs.

· Prepare and submit purchase orders accurately and on time.

· Maintain appropriate inventory levels across multiple locations.

· Monitor fast-moving, seasonal, promotional, and special-order merchandise.

· Identify potential stock-outs, overstocks, slow-moving merchandise, and obsolete inventory.

· Communicate with vendors regarding pricing, availability, lead times, shortages, substitutions, and deliveries.

· Verify vendor pricing, discounts, rebates, freight terms, and purchasing programs.

· Work with store managers, operations, sales, and management to coordinate purchasing needs.

· Monitor cost changes and identify opportunities to improve margins and purchasing efficiency.

· Assist with vendor credits, returns, discontinued items, and inventory-reduction efforts.

· Use reports and purchasing data to make informed buying decisions.

· Continually look for opportunities to improve product availability, inventory turns, and company profitability.

Qualifications:

· Previous experience in purchasing, inventory management, retail, wholesale distribution, hardware, lumber, or building materials is preferred.

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

· Comfortable working with numbers, reports, and inventory data.

· Strong computer skills; Microsoft Excel experience is preferred.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

· Ability to work independently and take ownership of responsibilities.

· Strong judgment, integrity, and follow-through.

Preferred experience: Ace Hardware, hardware retail, lumber, building materials, multi-location retail, or wholesale distribution.

What We Are Looking For:

· Thinks like an owner when spending company money.

· Notices problems before they become emergencies.

· Understands the importance of both strong in-stock levels and responsible inventory investment.

· Questions unusual costs, quantities, or inventory levels.

· Follows problems through until they are completely resolved.

· Communicates clearly with vendors, stores, and management.

· Wants to continually improve purchasing and inventory performance.

- High School Diploma or Eqivalent

- Must pass a national backgound check

- Must be able to pass a drug screen