Job Summary

The Purchasing Trainee’s primary responsibility will be to learn about UFPI, the role of the buyer, the products we purchase, how they are manufactured, how the material is transported from the mill to our plant, how it is processed at the plant level, and how it is sold. Training will include field training, training in the purchasing office, and training at the sawmill level. A trainee will also be responsible for assisting buyers and coordinators as instructed.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

A Buyer Trainee’s primary responsibility will be to learn the following:

Learn the role of the buyer

Learn how to function in our system, ie. Creating updating orders, tracing loads, etc.

Learn about the products we purchase and how they are manufactured

Learn how the material is processed at the plant level

Learn how the material is sold at the plant level

Learn how products are transported from the mill to our facilities or customers

Develops comprehensive knowledge of Company products and procedures through on-the-job training activities

Enter and check for complete and accurate information in mill acknowledgments

Provide plants with accurate and complete purchase order information

Advise others in the department of possible issues, lateness, discrepancies, and inaccurate acknowledgments

Help with coordination with transportation groups, and transportation issues

Know and become comfortable with department programs including VMIs, including updating weekly contract PO with pricing

Assist in developing and monitoring supplier programs

Assisting the department when needed with buying products and plant service

Fill in for buyers or others in the department when they are out of the office

Updating and expediting purchase orders

Handling inquiries from the field

Creates and maintains spreadsheets, reports, and other documents for the department as needed

Communicating thoughts on market conditions to purchasing and when directed to the field

Claim to handle and problem-solving with assistance from Department Manager

Able to provide plants with market information

Interact with Transportation and Accounting Departments

Interact with plants to insure quality service

Help in the developmental stage of new product sourcing

Have an awareness of plant inventory needs at all times and the confidence to buy those needs as the market may dictate, even when orders are not in the system

Become knowledgeable in the departmental markets. Freely offer opinions and encourage feedback on market, buying strategies, and departmental concerns

Identifies, researches, and resolves purchase order problems and opportunities

All other duties assigned by the Department Manager

Adhere to all UFP policies, procedures, and guidelines

Prepares various reports as required

Performs other duties as required

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline or equivalent preferred or 4 years of work experience.

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, Outlook, and other software for business applications

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Range:  $55,000 - $60,000 annually dependent on experience*

                *pay range may be adjusted depending on cost of living 

Bonus/Incentive Pay:  Annual performance bonus opportunity based on Company and specific business unit ROI and PBOP achievement criteria and individual job responsibility and performance.

Benefits currently offered to our employees:

Medical insurance

Health savings account with company contribution

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Basic and voluntary life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan with company match

Paid vacation and holidays

Stock purchase program with employee discount

Educational reimbursement

Wellness programs and challenges 

Click here to watch what a day in the life of a Purchasing Trainee looks like.

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.