Purchasing Agent

Working hours: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Monday-Friday)

Inspired Energy is an industry leading manufacturer of Smart Batteries and Smart Battery products with our primary focus on design and manufacture of world class rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and chargers for global distribution. Located in Newberry, FL, we are a growing, mid-sized corporation recognized as one of the top companies worldwide for highly customized portable power solutions with top quality customer support.

Job Description

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for supporting procurement activities to ensure the timely acquisition of high-quality electronic components and materials at the most competitive prices. This role requires strong collaboration, analytical ability, and attention to detail to maintain an efficient and cost-effective supply chain. Key responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating vendors, forecasting material demand, and leveraging market data to support purchasing decisions. The position works closely with engineering to identify manufacturable, cost-effective components and contributes to continuous improvement efforts that reduce inventory levels, optimize material flow, and enhance supplier performance.

A successful candidate will lead the following departmental responsibilities:

1. Monitor Inventory Levels and Ensure Material Availability
   Maintain accurate inventory records, forecast material demand, and coordinate purchasing activity to prevent stockouts and support uninterrupted production. Utilize data analysis to anticipate needs and optimize material flow.
2. Drive Cost Reduction and Material Efficiency
   Identify and implement strategies to lower material and inventory costs through supplier negotiation, market analysis, and waste reduction while maintaining quality and production readiness.
3. Optimize Supplier and Vendor Performance
   Evaluate, benchmark, and develop supplier relationships to improve reliability, quality, and pricing. Collaborate with vendors to resolve issues and enhance overall supply chain performance.
4. Enhance Sourcing and Product Manufacturability
   Partner with engineering to identify manufacturable, cost-effective components and ensure sourced materials align with design, quality, and compliance requirements.
5. Demonstrate Initiative and Collaboration
   Contribute to a positive and results-oriented work environment by taking initiative, supporting team objectives, and fostering cross-departmental cooperation to achieve procurement and production goals.

Required Competencies

• Strong decision making and critical thinking skills.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite of tools (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for vendors and team collaboration.
• Ability to learn and navigate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Inventory systems.
• Willingness to learn purchasing processes, such as request for quote (RFQ), order entry, and invoice reconciliation.
• Basic understanding of manufacturing environments, and production flow.
• Strong sense of accountability, and commitment to meeting deadlines and objectives.
• North Central Florida Candidate.

Preferred Competencies

• Experience working in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Prior experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations.
• Knowledge of international shipping processes, import/export documentation, and global supply chain logistics
• Ability to identify and verify electronic components using datasheets and part specifications.
• Familiarity with NetSuite ERP or similar enterprise resource planning systems.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and support cost-saving initiatives.
• Understanding of supplier communication and basic sourcing principles.

Physical Requirements

This position is classified as medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes as well as possessing the visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment. The worker is subject to environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside. The worker may be subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current and working on scaffolding and high places.

Requirements include but are not limited to:

• Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling. Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching. Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Crawling. Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing for up to 2 hours at a time.
• Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks.
• Pushing. Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Pulling. Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Fingering. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling. Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations sound.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

All post-secondary education listed on a Candidate’s application and resume must be verifiable, including but not limited to dates of attendance and degree/diploma awarded. Post-secondary education includes any courses taken through an accredited college or university in pursuit of a degree.
Salary to commensurate with qualifications and or experience.
Candidates must send resumes to Inspired Energy HR department 30 days from the posting date to be considered.
Inspired Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions at Inspired Energy are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Inspired Energy will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

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