Fortis partners with diagnostics and life sciences companies to design, validate, and manufacture solutions to solve their complex development problems. Fortis’ tailored approach and end-to-end capabilities accelerate the work of its customers as they bring the next generation of medicines and diagnostics to market. Fortis serves a global customer base and has offices across the world including four R&D sites and three GMP and ISO 13485-compliant manufacturing facilities in North America.

Empirical Bioscience, is a Fortis Life Sciences company, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is an ISO 13485 (2016) Certified, FDA-registered developer, and manufacturer of enzymes, proteins, and reagents for Molecular Biology and Life Science applications. Empirical focuses on supplying premium, quality, and custom-configured products to the Life Science industry for both research and commercial applications.

Empirical Bioscience is seeking an Inventory & Purchasing Associate for a full-time position at our facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Job Summary

Procurement & Inventory Management:

• Collaborate with all departments to determine upcoming projects to have supplies(inventory) on hand for those projects.
• Monitor Inventory levels to avoid overstock or backorders.
• Work closely with suppliers/vendors. Participate in the negotiation of prices, terms of agreement quality requirements, and delivery schedules.
• Performs complex buying strategies to purchase and arrange timely deliveries of supplies and materials; expedites as needed and serves as a liaison between vendors and our team, getting prior approval for purchases in excess of established limits. Effectively manages supply programs to meet lead times, as well as delivery dates.
• Procure and manage material to meet quality, delivery, inventory, and price targets (use ERP/QuickBooks).
• Participate in Inventory/Cycle Count as needed.
• Update vendor prices in our system so our Controller can capture true COGS.
• Negotiates prices, terms, and quality requirements; prepares requests for quotes and assists in the development of new supply sources; evaluates market conditions.
• Identify and onboard any new suppliers, ensure project timelines are met, and mitigate any supply risks associated with the purchase orders.
• Communicate with customers to resolve discrepant sales orders in a timely manner.
• Performs value analysis to identify cost improvements.
• Analyze consumption data and report to management on stock levels, issues, bottlenecks, etc.

Shipping:

• Monitor customer's order via phone, email, fax, or website and enter into ERP system.
• Examine and inspect containers, materials, and products to ensure that packing specifications are met. Execute and document quality inspections per Standard Operating Procedures.
• Pick and pack orders for shipment, ensuring that the correct number and type of product is used.
• Produce key performance indicators (weekly open order reports and monthly on-time shipping reports) to the leadership team.
• Resolve any order-related issues to minimize occurrences of late shipments.

Receiving:

• Troubleshoot any bottlenecks in the receiving process at both 40th and 44th street sites. Collaborate with suppliers, receiving personnel, and the finance department to improve efficiency with these processes.
• Backup in performing receiving processes at both 40th and 44th Street locations.

Compliance with Procedures:

• Maintain a clean, neat, and orderly work area.
• Communicate and report any incidents, customer complaints, etc.
• Provide technical support and training to other employees for cross-training.
• Other work-related duties may be assigned by your manager as the business and work evolves.
• Resolves delivery, quality, or other related problems with purchases and invoices.

Other Accountabilities:

• Own daily working relationships with suppliers, category leaders, and manufacturing or project leaders. Effectively communicates with and engages all levels of the organization, as well as key vendors.
• Own daily working relationships with suppliers, category leaders, and manufacturing or project leaders. Effectively communicates with and engages all levels of the organization, as well as key vendors.
• Cross Train your responsibilities with other team members.

Competencies

• Ability to work proactively. Collaboratively and independently.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Knowledge and strong utilization of Microsoft applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, word, and Teams. ERP experience desired.
• Self-confident with the ability to assess situations and make sound decisions and/or solve problems autonomously.
• Problem solver
• Ability to work independently and oversee one or more projects.
• Experience processing return orders, manufacturing environment
• Experience with Inventory control and management

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree preferred in Supply Chain Management or relevant field plus a minimum of 2 years of industry experience.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; lift up to 50lbs; use hands.

Fortis is an equal employment opportunity employer. The Company’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Fortis also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Fortis’ policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.