Purchasing Support Specialist

Winsupply is in the business of creating and enabling entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams through wholesale distribution. Winsupply is a group of over 680 locally-owned companies that operate across a variety of industries, including HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical and more. The purpose of the support services campus is to eliminate obstacles and provide support to help our entrepreneurs succeed. Support service employees assist entrepreneurs in achieving their dreams through finance, accounting, IT, and other back-office operations.

Winsupply Sourcing Services (WSS) operates ~2 million square feet of wholesaling warehouse space, while offering inventory and vendor management solutions, to be the premier vendor partner for our customer base.    

Our customer base consists of aspiring entrepreneurs who own and operate their own wholesale distribution businesses, now over 680 businesses nationwide.  Therefore, this job provides the opportunity to have a direct impact in the success of entrepreneurial small businesses across the United States, and in particular, those that rely on WSS to improve their inventory turnover.  WSS transacts with vendors and customers nearly three quarters of a million times in a given fiscal year.  In this role, you will help the procurement teams of WSS achieve a premier customer experience through proactive communication and order expediting services.

Key Job Responsibilities

Back Order Management

• Develop relationships with shipping and customer service employees at vendor partners stocked in DCs
• Review all back orders open for more than 3 days beyond original order date
  • Communicate with vendor partners, proactively, to obtain estimated lead times for back orders
  • Decide, based on lead time, whether to expedite order or wait for product delivery
  • Communicate with local companies (LC), proactively, on status of back order and expedited fill date
• Update lead time information within WISE enterprise resource system
• Review vendor ASNs and back order reporting to provide direct feedback to Distribution Centers on shipments requiring priority receiving
• Manage back order and fill rate metrics to proactively communicate with local companies experiencing significant back order trends; work with Purchasing Agents to improve customer experience

Order Expediting

• Review stocking positions, sales history, shipping quotes, replenishment lead times, etc. to consider material that can be transferred between Distribution Centers without exacerbating stock out issues
  • Determine when appropriate to transfer material between DCs to resolve open back orders
  • Effectively record metrics related to expedited transfers, including number, frequency, amount, freight expense, improved back order fill time, etc.

WSS Operational & System Expertise

• Maintain proper documentation on all matters in Cherwell; communicate identified process improvements
• Hold oneself to team service standards; manage resolutions between WSS Policies and LC stratification

All other duties as assigned, including special projects.

Competencies for Success

• Customer-focused Mindset
• Detail oriented
• Analytical/Critical Thinking
• Effective communication
• Deadline driven

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Business, Business Administration or related field. In lieu of degree, relevant experience considered.
• Proficient with office technology and software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in wholesale industry.

Physical Demands

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations:

• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other computer components.

We are committed to inclusion, diversity, and equal employment opportunity, regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.