Purchasing Specialist

Vode Lighting is an international manufacturer of minimalistic architectural lighting systems that responsibly enhance public, commercial and educational interior spaces.

Our business is predicated on helping designers realize their vision for the built environment while being mindful of Earth’s environment. From these considerations, we engineer lighting solutions that are at once beautiful and practical, elegant and efficient.

Every aspect of building design is being challenged by energy initiatives, so we design products that consume fewer resources and are themselves highly recyclable.

We strive to maximize the good materials (aluminum) and minimize the bad (lead, mercury, plastic, paint). As a small company, the environmental impact of our products is negligible, but the impact of our beliefs need not be.

And because our aim is to unify spaces with light, not decorate them with fixtures, our luminaires – be they ambient, display or task – are minimalist in design.

At Vode, minimalist design isn’t a slavish devotion to Cool. It is a direct and highly engineered response to the architectural marketplace. We’ve been asked for low-profile, high-performance, energy-efficient, scalable, durable luminaires.

And that’s what we make.

Background

Vode is privately owned and controlled by three partners – Scott Yu, Tom Warton and George Mieling.  Vode began as a vision for change—the vision of three partners who wanted to create a company that combined business innovation, minimalistic and responsible design and manufacturing practices for everyone’s benefit.

It started in 2006, when industrial designer Scott Yu yearned to create long-lasting and environmentally mindful products. He was intrigued by the growing need for energy-efficiency and the rapid development LED technology. He began hosting meetings with design, technology and business thinkers, to hatch a plan for the perfect product company.

At the same time, Tom Warton—lighting industry entrepreneur was envisioning better ways to approach architectural lighting, and a more principled way to run a lighting manufacturing company.

Tom attended one of Scott’s meetings. Ideas were sparked and before long, the two men generated a plan to create minimalistic and responsible lighting. Tom and Scott discovered that the greatest need was for modular linear architectural lighting systems. They brought on partner George Mieling to help operate the company and in August 2006 introduced their innovative lighting systems to the market.

Today, Vode works for the professional who designs, delivers or constructs lighting systems -- and for the people who inhabit those spaces.

Reports to: Operations Manager

Overall Expectations:

Represent and execute the quality, commitment to customer service, and professionalism that our company wants to be known for.  Take pride in your work, manage your responsibilities, and ensure your performance and the decisions that you make reflect the company's goals to competitively deliver high quality lighting systems on time. 

General Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with our vendors in the US and China
• Place material orders with preferred vendors
• Review all orders for accuracy
• Follow up and track outstanding orders
• Ensure materials are delivered in a timely manner
• Maintain data base of price history and part number
• Ensure pricing is competitive, consistent, and within budget
• Review, enter and organize material transfers and returns
• Monitor and report inventory levels including vendor-owned inventory
• Ensure in-stock inventory is used prior to ordering
• Perform warehouse audits / inspections
• Ensure return merchandise authorizations (RMA's) are completed for all returnable material

Expectations:

• Maintain a healthy partnership with and respect for our preferred vendors, ensuring a relationship beneficial to both parties
• After receipt of a bill of materials, check stock for items prior to ordering.
• Check for quantity, description, and part number discrepancies prior to entering orders
• Work with Product Manager and Sales Support to ensure all materials are delivered in a timely manner
• Create and/or maintain an up to date base of items ordered and pricing associated for reference
• Identify, report, and correct errors in system to ensure accurate data is being viewed at all times
• Process all material transfers and return to stock items and verify accuracy

• High level of accountability with maximum accuracy and time management
• fluency in Mandarin or Cantonese a big plus
• 3 years of experience with QuickBooks Manufacturing or equivalent accounting software
• 3 years of experience with Fishbowl Manufacturing or equivalent inventory management software
• Strong proficiency with Inventory Management & Reconciliation
• Experience in the lighting industry preferred
• Legally eligible to work in the U.S.           
• Ability to self-organize efficiently
• Proven administration abilities related to purchasing
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Positive team attitude
• Intermediate computer skills
• Ability to work well with team members
• Proficient in MS office (mainly Excel)     
• Experience in preparing professional reports