Procurement Assistant

**Position Objective**

Provide accurate and timely completion of responsibilities for the Category Management Team in accordance to achieve planned customer product programs and sustain business operations and growth; executes all duties in accordance with the company’s key performance indicators, business objectives, guiding values, policies and procedures.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

Project and Task Management
- Process and create purchase orders, sales orders and I-trade orders in a timely manner, ensuring attention to detail. Report discrepancies to Category Management team as necessary.
- Prepare and maintain accurate records and reports for including but not limited to; pricing, customer instruction, quality, inventory and transfers, vendor information, invoice and cost data
- Prepare and communicate loading schedules, ensuring to work closely with internal logistics team, ensure loading schedules are aligned with customer delivery schedules
- Provide support in the promotion and creation of programs for customers and assist in the communication of those programs to the sales teams
- Troubleshoot inventory discrepancies, research and resolve discrepancies in partnership with operating partners and Category Managers
- Prepare, update and manage category portion of support for Sales Team and communicate updates to category management team as required for; floor plans, transfers, inventory, etc.
- Prepare and keep records of the vendor payment process; compile payment package, track the information, ensure accuracy, maintain files and spreadsheets, communicate payment details to vendors, analyze the data and troubleshoot issues.
- Track, update and modify product data flow and payments to ensure no discrepancies in items or pricing and address changes in demand with the Category Management Team.
- Prepare research and ad hoc project work as required.
- Follow-up on outstanding items and issues and support buyers with correcting and tracking down discrepancies.
- Assists Co-worker with overflow work as necessary.
- Process and update Category Management team annual budget and forecasting tools.
- Execute all duties in accordance with the company’s key performance indicators, business objectives, guiding values, policies and procedures.

Communication
- Pro-actively communicate with colleagues and other departments as necessary to attain pertinent information and ensure deadlines are met.
- Provide updates for internal teams in key areas of the business which includes but is not limited to; sales reports, inventory reports and category watch outs.

Problem Solving
- Day-to-day management of obstacles within the position.
- Provide support for internal teams to assess root cause for concerns arising and/or currently existing within the product programs.
- Assist in the Collection of information regarding customer needs and adjust/ update category management team accordingly based on results provided in sales and budgets.
- Escalate complex issues and work with the Category Management Team to resolve.

Accountability
- Aid in the planning, tracking, reporting and execution of planned customer product programs and procurement activities, ensuring program compliance, accurate date-tracking, procurement policies and guidelines are adhered to and deadlines are met.
- Prepare and complete documents, presentations, communication templates, program templates and reports for the category management team.
- Ensure timely completion and management of category deliverables by working with team and through personal time management.
- Stay up to date on pricing and products on hand and on route to ensure integrity of the procurement plan. Verify incoming loads upon receipt at warehouse.
- Work in partnership with all applicable departments to accomplish category objectives and work together to achieve these objectives specifically as it pertains to coordinating; product sourcing, product inventory, product quality, shipping/receiving, storage, pricing, floor-planning, claims, shrink prevention/management, program profitability, increased sales, customer support, customer satisfaction, shorts management, DSD programs, and reduced/managed overhead costs.
- Track and report vendors’ performance to category management to ensure the business can meet customer needs through consistent and effective vendor product quality, delivery, pricing, innovation etc.

Detail Orientation
- Ensures all data entry, verifications, documents and reports are audited and error free in advance of submission or communication with internal or external parties.

Job Knowledge
- Understand the company’s categories and assigned categories specifically as it pertains to quality, supply chain requirements, product flow, inventory management, product shelf life/expiry, product sales potential, product sell through opportunities, and opportunities to leverage other category programs.

Quality
- Ensure seamless customer service while worki