Commodity Specialist - Procurement

Job Description:

First for a reason
First Student is the largest school transportation provider in North America with more than a century of experience providing safe and reliable transportation. We work with 1,250 school districts in 39 states and 8 Canadian provinces carrying approximately five million students in 21,000 schools daily.
About the Position
Monitors supplier performance, optimizes purchasing process, and manages supplier business process. Initiates and oversees corrective action activities as required. The position necessitates a familiarity of operational concepts, policies and procedures supporting a variety of requirements/tasks. Cost reduction activities are a significant element of this role Provides commodity CPA support to operating locations on supply chain management. Provides program support to all stakeholders, including procurement, internal and external customers, and management.
This is a hybrid role in the Cincinnati Metro Area!
$75,000 to $80,000 yearly salary!
Responsibilities:

• Leadership of the commodity -
  • Develop expertise in the target commodity and a thorough understanding of demand/supply market dynamics
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of the total cost of ownership and various savings levers applicable to drive cost savings
  • Prepare for and conduct contract negotiations
  • Monitor supply markets and industries including pricing trends, new suppliers and alternative solutions and supply risks
• Monitor business transactions for commodity including:
  
  • Monitor purchase-order life cycle including:
    system entry and maintenance, partner confirmation, ensuring order and audit receipts
  • Monitor orders and requisitions throughout the demand-chain life cycle and perform appropriate tasks
  • Monitor and validate accuracy of supplier invoices, to ensure invoices are within specific contract pricing and terms
• Customer Support -
  • Respond and resolve order, delivery and service-related inquiries from internal and external customers within specified time-frames
  • Responsible for administration and upholding the integrity of Procurement's centralized programs
  • Educate and communicate with all stakeholders
  • Key Advocate of, and clearly communicate benefits of commodity programs to stakeholders
• Business Analysis -
  • Coordinate continued actions ensuring conformance to CPA supplier contract and practices by suppliers
  • identify and work with customers and suppliers ensuring compliance to CPA policies and procedures
  • Use of root-cause analysis, data anomalies, and ongoing spend analysis with other tools to identify and implement additional opportunities for savings
  • Maintain internal records of location commodity requirements, contacts, and other pertinent information related to purchasing agreements
• Transition and Project Support -
  • Assist with program development, internal and external tasks as they relate to procurement
  • Assist with special projects as required, such as creating and maintaining asset inventories, pricing set-ups and requirements
• Support changes to existing commodity suppliers as needed
• Perform other duties and take direction as assigned by director, within specified time-frames.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• 3 years experience in purchasing or equivalent experience
• Strong computer skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment
• Quick thinker with excellent problem solving ability
• Able to work independently and in a group setting
• Ability to learn and adapt to varied work assignments
• Strong oral and written communication and inter-personal skills needed for dealing effectively with all customers and suppliers

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https:
//www.Phila.Gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.Pdf.
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