| Title: | Purchasing Agent |
|---|---|
| ID: | 100856 |
| Location: | Brooklyn, NY |
| Department: | Fiscal |
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY
REPORTS TO: Financial Manager
DEPARTMENT: Fiscal
SCHEDULE: Full Time / Hybrid
AGENCY BACKGROUND:
MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since we were founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst serves more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures and develop their full potential.
PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
The Fiscal Purchasing Department researches, negotiates and orders of needed supplies within the established budget. The Purchasing Department provides friendly customer service, collaborating with all levels of employees, management, and vendors to resolve accounting-related inquiries in a timely and professional manner.
POSITION SUMMARY:
This position responds to the purchasing needs of our programs and administrative departments. In addition to regular office purchases, we have residential and foster care programs requiring such purchasing as children's food and clothing. As a non-profit, we get reimbursed for allowable expenses. Therefore, understanding contract allowances and analyzing potential vendors to find the most cost effective ways to obtain needed items is crucial. Position responsibilities include receiving purchase orders, checking contract requirements/allowances and making appropriate purchases. Follow up on outstanding orders, delays, mistakes, etc. Prefer experience with formal bidding a plus (from preparing bid specs, placing legal advertisements, creating requests for proposals to awarding contracts). This position offers great opportunity for a hybrid schedule. For onsite, choose from our Sunset Park (Brooklyn), Ozone Park (Queens) or Syosset (Long Island) sites.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Minimum of 3 years of previous purchasing experience required, preferably in a similar type of organization
- Previous experience with purchasing for offices, residential programs and health care items.
- AAS or BA degree in a related field is preferred. Minimum of High School Diploma or equivalent required. Experience may offset education.
- Previous accounting/bookkeeping experience preferred including exposure to working within budget parameters.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP).
- Must possess strong verbal communication skills and excellent organization skills.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Primary responsibility is to purchase materials and supplies for a social services agency including offices, residential homes and health care items.
- Manage purchasing activities to support business goals and objectives while staying within established budgets.
- Establish, maintain and build relationships with current and prospective suppliers.
- Review aggregation of purchases and vendors to pursue cost reductions.
- Place orders, receive inventory (into system), manage vendor relationships, and work with accounting department.
- Maintain and approve the purchasing of supplies and services necessary for operations, including equipment, tools and materials.
- Operate computer equipment which includes utilization and effective use of software programs.
BENEFITS/PERKS:
- A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family.
- 403B retirement benefits.
- Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
- Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, 12 paid holidays).
- Free employee assistance program through National EAP.
- Insurance discounts for our staff and their families.
- Training to support professional and personal development.
- Employee wellness program.
- Employee recognition activities.
Salary Range:
$50,000 - $65,000 per year
MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.
