Purchasing Specialist at IQ Fiber – Jacksonville, Florida

Job Summary
The Purchasing Specialist is responsible for procuring materials, equipment, services, and labor required to support company operations. This role ensures all purchasing activities comply with company policies by utilizing approved vendors or following direction from the department heads. The Purchasing Specialist exercises independent judgment and discretion in evaluating procurement needs, analyzing vendor options, managing inventory strategy, and recommending purchasing decisions that impact cost control and operational effectiveness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Procure materials, equipment, services, and labor exclusively from company-approved vendors or as directed by the department heads, in accordance with established procurement policies
• Analyze requisitions for non-inventory materials and marketing sponsorship needs and determine appropriate procurement approach
• Manage and obtain signatures for scope of works for engineering, labor projects, and special projects as needed
• Oversee the creation, management, and tracking of labor purchase orders, ensuring accuracy, proper authorization, and compliance with contractual and budgetary requirements
• Issue purchase orders in alignment with company policies, approval workflows, and financial guidelines
• Analyze inventory usage trends, demand patterns, and inventory turn metrics to determine appropriate replenishment strategies
• Exercises independent judgment in evaluating purchasing requests, vendor selection options, inventory strategies, and prioritization of procurement activities
• Recommends purchasing, inventory, and cost-control strategies to department leadership and management
• Interprets company procurement policies and applies them to varied and non-routine situations
• Identifies risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities related to purchasing and inventory management and proposes solutions
• Collaborate with Operations, Warehouse, Finance, and other departments to align inventory levels with business and project requirements
• Review inventory reports to identify slow-moving, excess, or at-risk inventory and develop recommendations for corrective actions
• Track open purchase orders and labor POs to ensure timely delivery of materials and completion of services
• Assist in resolving discrepancies related to pricing, quantities, scope of work, delivery, or invoicing
• Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, vendor, contract, and Labor PO documentation
• Identify cost-saving opportunities, supplier efficiencies, and process improvements and present findings to management
• Develop tools as needed to streamline role objectives and company requirements
• Performs ad hoc tasks and analysis to assist the Procurement Manager and/or Finance team

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field, or equivalent work experience in related industry
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations
• Working knowledge of inventory management, replenishment planning, and inventory turn analysis
• Proficiency with ERP systems, particularly NetSuite
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Strong organizational, analytical, and attention-to-detail skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills

Work Environment

• This role will be on site in Jacksonville, FL

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

IQ Fiber is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.