Purchaser

Job Purpose

If you're ready to jump into a hands-on role where your efficiency drives company success, this is your opportunity. The Purchaser is a critical player in the Network Innovation supply chain, responsible for ensuring the cost-effective and timely acquisition of goods and services necessary for our operations.

You will play a key role in executing purchasing strategies, assisting with major supplier contracts, and maintaining reliable vendor relationships. This position requires a meticulous approach to high-volume PO creation and inventory control, ensuring every transaction is accurate and contributes directly to our overall efficiency and bottom line.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement purchasing strategies to optimize costs, quality, and delivery of goods and services.
• Oversee the entire procurement cycle, from requisition to order placement and final delivery.
• Ensure adherence to purchasing policies, procedures, and ethical guidelines.
• Monitor purchase orders and expedite them when necessary to meet required delivery dates.
• Monitor market trends and supplier performance to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery, and service metrics.
• Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing with suppliers to achieve favorable agreements.
• Manage supplier relationships, addressing performance issues, and fostering long-term partnerships.
• Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Collaborate with other departments (Sales, Customer Service, Logistics) to forecast purchasing needs and optimize inventory levels.
• Monitor inventory turns and implement strategies to reduce excess or obsolete inventory.
• Assist with annual inventory counts and conduct regular spot checks on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Analyze purchasing data to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve efficiency.
• Prepare and manage purchasing budgets.
• Create part numbers and maintain price updates in the ERP system.
• Generate reports and metrics as requested by the Director, Supply Chain.
• Continuously seek to improve purchasing processes and workflows.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, internal policies, and audit requirements.
• Utilize purchasing software and systems effectively to streamline operations.
• Prepare and present reports on purchasing activities, cost savings, and supplier performance.
• Resolve complex purchasing issues, such as delayed shipments, quality discrepancies, or pricing disputes.
• Act as an escalation point for purchasing-related problems.
• Perform other duties as reasonably assigned.

Qualifications

• High School or higher education level with a minimum of 2 years of progressive purchasing experience, including time in a lead or strategically focused capacity.
• Proven ability to negotiate contracts, analyze purchasing data, prepare budgets, and drive significant cost-saving initiatives.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office and ERP/CRM systems (e.g., Dynamics CRM) for effective inventory, purchasing management, and large-volume PO creation.
• Superior attention to detail, strong analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to effectively prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for multi-departmental and vendor collaboration, plus the ability to operate material handling equipment (hand jacks/forklifts) as needed.

Direct Reports

• None

Working Conditions

This position operates in a professional office environment during normal business hours. Standard office hours are 7:30am to 4:30pm, however, work outside of regular office hours and occasional travel will be required. Hybrid remote work schedule, per Houston office guidelines. There may be times when the employee is required to work outside of normal business hours. Varies from a climate-controlled office setting to work outdoors in temperatures ranging from mild to moderate.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the individual to sit and use a computer for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. An employee also is regularly required to stoop, kneel, bend, crouch or crawl, climb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Paid Time Off
• Cost shared Medical and Dental
• Company matched 401K plan
• Hybrid work environment
• Full-time, permanent

Details

• Job title: Purchaser
• Location: Houston (Hybrid Remote)
• Supervisor: Director, Supply Chain
• Department: Operations, Americas
• FLSA: Non-Exempt

About Network Innovations

Keeping people connected anywhere on the planet is more than just our expertise – it’s our mission. Network Innovations is a technology and systems integrator that provides secure and seamless global communications solutions. Our customers conduct some of the most important work on the planet, whether it’s helping a remote island rise again after a hurricane, defending a country's borders, preventing a catastrophic power grid failure… you get the deal. What this means for our team is that we come to work each day knowing that it matters. We’re forward thinkers and problem solvers who thrive on challenges. Determination, integrity, humility, and respect are at our core. If you’re looking to grow with an organization that values collaboration, diversity, and learning, you’re in the right place.

Network Innovations is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We live our core values and look to them to drive business results and help our customers conduct some of the most important work on the planet. We believe a diverse global workforce allows us to create customer intimacy and sustained profitability. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national or ethnic origin, marital status, family status, disability, genetic characteristics. Whether you are starting your career or have decades of experience, we welcome you to join our mission to connect our world securely and seamlessly.

Accommodations during the application process are available upon request. While we appreciate all applicant submissions, only those considered to be most qualified will be contacted for further assessment.

Disclaimer Statement: This job description lists the essential functions of the position and is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to a position. An employee may be required to perform other related duties not listed above provided that such duties are characteristic of that classification.