Purchasing - Purchaser

Overview

Posted Monday, January 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Job Title: Purchaser

Department: Purchasing

Location: Waterloo, ON

Reports To: Purchasing Manager

Grote Electronics Located in Waterloo, Ontario, we’re part of the wider Grote Industries group—a trusted name in safety lighting for over 120 years. We are a leading manufacturer of vehicle lighting and safety systems. All work focuses on delivering quality and value to our customers, both internal and external. The entire organization will engage in continual ongoing effort to improve processes by eliminating waste in everything we do. Effective communication of our quality objectives and an environment built on teamwork and continuous improvement will lead us to success.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Purchasing Supervisor the incumbent is responsible for the procurement of goods associated with the Company’s needs for production materials, services, fixed assets, and tooling. As well, the incumbent is responsible for the timely materials requirement planning, Kanban process with follow up and audits, costing and quality of the products and services. The incumbent will adhere to the Company’s policies, procedures, and instructions and/or customer specific quality standards.

Primary Responsibilities

- Lean manufacturing theories and practices, knowledge and ownership of the Kanban process
- Evaluate Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and places orders to satisfy production, with consideration on balancing costs and inventory.
- Evaluates Minimum Order Quantity & Economic Order Quantity (MOQ/EOQ)
- Negotiates favorable pricing and terms with suppliers.
- Analyzes Requests for Quote & Request for Pricing (RFQ/RFP) to determine responsible and cost-efficient suppliers.
- Procurement of samples as required achieving timely launch of New Products.
- Communicates material and/or vendor issues that will impact sales, production and/or delivery
- Develops and maintain strong relationships with outside vendors and internal customers and troubleshoots and product or delivery issues.
- Maintains current purchasing prices & specification and through investigation, resolve any accounting issues.
- Manages purchasing files, orders, reports, and establishes blanket Purchase Orders (POs) for repeating goods and service requirements.
- Negotiates and executes credits and returns for non-conforming material using return authorization, Return Material Authorization Number (RMA) and/or Material Return Authorization Number (MRA) with the Quality Department
- Ensures system accuracy, verifies delivery dates, purchase prices, amounts, and resolves any receiving discrepancies.
- Expedites orders to prevent material shortages.
- Other duties as required.

Required Qualifications and Experience

- Experience with Kanban and Lean Manufacturing
- 1-3 years experience in procurement function in a manufacturing environment
- Past work history with Electronics Purchasing an asset
- University Degree or College Diploma in Materials Management
- Supply Chain Management, CPP & CPIM Certification an asset
- MRP, ERP, MRO experience an asset
- Should possess a basic understanding of standards, plastics, and electronics manufacturing, along with a good working knowledge of ERP, specifically Oracle JD Edwards software an asset.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, priority management, reporting, written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient with MS Office Suite, Oracle JD Edwards (E1), Outlook
- Capable or working independently, prioritizing, multi-tasking and organizing, must be self starter
- Knowledgeable in WHMIS and Health and Safety requirements

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