Purchase Specialist

This role is 100% onsite in either Advance, NC; Ecru, MS; or Arcadia, WI. Relocation is not provided. Must be able to reliably commute.

Who We Are

At Ashley, inspiring the love of home is at the heart of everything we do. As the world’s largest manufacturer of home furnishings, we’re more than a business — we’re a family driven by innovation, competitiveness, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We persevere through challenges, push beyond the status quo, and constantly seek better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. Our solutions-first mindset and dedication to growth are why Ashley remains #1 in our industry.

With a true “Growth Mindset,” Ashley Furniture invests in developing future leaders and helps every team member learn from the best in the business.

Summary

The MRO Purchasing Specialist will provide appropriate quality materials in an MRO environment on time and utilize the best cost-management practices while maintaining favorable long-term relationships with suppliers. The MRO Purchasing Specialist will collaborate with internal customers to determine requirements and specifications. This position will also review purchase requisitions, analyze specifications, investigate suppliers, analyze supplier capabilities, meet and communicate with suppliers, study costs and prices, negotiate pricing, terms and delivery, and select or recommend suppliers. The MRO Purchasing Specialist is accountable for all MRO Purchasing activities, performing them in accordance with the applicable asset Management system and Ashley policies.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Procurement
  • Source and procure MRO materials, parts, and services
  • Develop and execute procurement strategies for MRO categories
  • Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms with suppliers
  • Manage supplier relationships and performance
  • Identify cost reduction and value improvement opportunities
  • Support strategic sourcing initiatives
  • Evaluate make vs. buy decisions
• Supplier Management
  • Evaluate, select, and qualify MRO suppliers
  • Monitor supplier performance metrics
  • Conduct supplier audits and assessments
  • Manage vendor contracts and agreements
  • Resolve supplier quality and delivery issues
  • Develop strategic supplier partnerships
  • Maintain approved vendor database
• Purchase Order Management
  • Process purchase requisitions and create purchase orders
  • Manage purchase order lifecycle from creation to closure
  • Expedite critical and emergency orders
  • Track order status and delivery schedules
  • Resolve purchasing discrepancies and issues
  • Coordinate with receiving and accounts payable
  • Maintain accurate purchasing records
• Cost Management
  • Analyze MRO spending patterns and trends
  • Identify and implement cost savings opportunities
  • Monitor budget compliance and variances
  • Negotiate favorable pricing and payment terms
  • Track and report cost savings achievements
  • Support budget planning and forecasting
  • Optimize total cost of ownership

Requirements

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent work experience
  • Professional certifications (CPSM, CPPO, APICS) preferred
  • Continuing education in procurement and supply chain
• Experience:
  • 3+ years MRO or industrial purchasing experience
  • Manufacturing environment experience required
  • Contract negotiation experience
  • Supplier management background
  • ERP/procurement system experience
  • Knowledge of maintenance operations

Work Environment

This position is located in an active industrial manufacturing and distribution center with moderate to high noise levels, temperature variations, and material handling equipment in operation. The role may require extended periods of standing or walking on concrete floors and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and steel-toed boots. The fast-paced environment involves time-sensitive and safety-sensitive operations and may include various shift schedules to support production and distribution needs.

Pay

$19.00-$22.00 per hour

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off; increases with years of service
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Tuition Assistance
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific)
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values

• Honesty & Integrity: Acts with transparency, discretion, and ethical judgment. Trusted to handle sensitive information and provide accurate, unbiased insights.
• Dirty Fingernail: Takes full accountability for outcomes, not just tasks. Inspects details, ensures data accuracy, and follows through to completion.
• Continuous Improvement: Actively seeks better ways to improve templates, tools, and processes. Learns from prior initiatives and embeds lessons into standard work.
• Growth & Results Focus: Understands how transformation initiatives drive growth, cost reduction, and profitability. Keeps work aligned to enterprise priorities.
• Culture of Leadership: Leads through influence, reliability, and example. Builds trust across functions and supports leaders at every level.
• Customer-Centric & Boundaryless: Works across silos for the greater good of the organization. Ensures outputs meet the needs of executives, initiative owners, and teams.
• Operational Excellence: Demonstrates strong organizational discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear, executable tools.