Warehouse Specialist

About the role

The Warehouse Specialist is responsible for purchasing products and services essential for day-to-day operations, ensuring optimal product quality, economic performance, and stock levels. This role involves processing, accepting, and shipping orders, maintaining warehouse organization, and managing inventory records.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional purchasing and re-purchasing of parts, supplies, consumables, and inventory items according to established guidelines and company policies.
• Research and evaluate suppliers and supply chains, with input from internal stakeholders, to identify the best value available.
• Negotiate pricing and terms to achieve the best market value.
• Maintain relationships with current suppliers and potential new vendors to review products and services.
• Order and reorder items to maintain inventory, facilitate timely repairs, and support capital projects.
• Maintain up-to-date and accurate location and inventory information, including regular physical inventories.
• Process daily inventory adjustments from usage records and check-out sheets.
• Inspect all incoming and outgoing orders for damage, defective parts, or missing items; report and return damaged products.
• Accept deliveries and store products in an orderly manner.
• Pack and ship orders, samples, and other packages for delivery.
• Direct salvage of damaged, used, and discarded materials with managerial approval.
• Maintain warehouse and storage areas (cleaning, organizing, etc.).
• Consult with and assist shop personnel, engineers, and other staff on equipment, parts, supplies, and vendor needs.
• Operate a company truck to pick up and deliver supplies, courier documents, and handle mail safely and efficiently.
• Safely operate forklifts or other machinery for transporting large orders and heavy products.
• Prepare and transmit purchase orders, review contracts, and confirm orders.
• Adhere to company safety policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of and adherence to company safety policies and procedures.
• Ability to operate a forklift and/or pallet jack.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university preferred.
• Five years of related experience in warehouse management and purchasing, with an emphasis on professional purchasing practices.
• Mathematical skills to calculate discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume, and apply basic algebra and geometry concepts.
• Proficiency in Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Great Plains.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and handle abstract and concrete variables.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Work Environment

The work environment involves regular exposure to outside weather conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles (copper or zinc dust), and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level is usually loud.