Purchasing Agent / Buyer

Why This Role Matters

The Purchasing Agent / Buyer is the commercial backbone of Shepherd's inventory engine. Every product that moves through our branches, every fill rate we achieve or miss, every vendor relationship that holds or frays - it traces back to how well this role executes.

This is not a transactional purchasing job. This is the role responsible for managing supplier relationships, optimizing inventory investment, and keeping six branches stocked with the right products at the right cost. You own the line, not just the order. You anticipate gaps before they become customer problems, negotiate with purpose, and make decisions grounded in data - Turns, GMROI, and lead times are your language.

If you know electrical distribution, understand how buying decisions ripple through a company, and want to work where your work is felt by real customers on real jobsites - this role was built for you.

How This Role Connects to Our Compass

We Keep Our Promises: Your purchasing decisions determine whether our branches can fulfill sales commits. When a product is out of stock, backordered, or mispriced, customers feel it. Your job is to prevent that - through disciplined replenishment, vendor accountability, and proactive communication when exceptions arise.

We Stay Hungry: The best buyers do not wait for problems - they surface trends in the data, challenge vendor terms, and constantly ask whether inventory is working as hard as it should. You bring curiosity and commercial instinct to every line you manage.

We Grow Together: Purchasing does not operate in isolation. You work alongside sales, warehouse, and branch leadership - and your decisions affect all of them. You share what you know, flag what matters, and treat cross-functional coordination as part of your responsibilities.

We Own It: When a product fails, a rebate goes uncaptured, or a supplier misses a commitment - you do not pass it along. You investigate, you resolve, and you make sure it does not happen again. Ownership at this level means the business can count on you.

We Go Above & Beyond: You anticipate stock gaps before they become missed orders. You find the better deal before pricing becomes a barrier. You understand our customers' business well enough to stock what they will need before they know to ask.

Key Outcomes

Organized by what matters, not just what you do.

Procurement & Inventory Management

• Own procurement and inventory management across assigned product lines for all branch locations
• Maintain appropriate stock levels that balance service levels against working capital - measured by Turns, GMROI, service levels and fill rates
• Manage the full distribution lifecycle for stock and nonstock products - from new products introductions through discontinuation
• Monitor vendor lead times, identify gaps before they become outages, and take corrective action proactively
• Find solutions to inventory issues with cost competitive alternatives
• Coordinate inbound freight flow with warehouse operations to ensure receiving accuracy and minimal disruption

Vendor Relationships & Negotiation

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with manufacturer representatives and vendor contacts
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and program structures that improve Shepherd's competitive position
• Track, manage, and capture line-specific rebate and program dollars - none should be left on the table
• Evaluate new product offerings with discipline: not everything belongs in stock, and you gather the information to make the final decision
• Hold vendors accountable to commitments - on pricing, delivery, returns and program terms

Data & System Integrity

• Maintain accurate product file data in Eclipse, SKU-level detail, and warehouse quantity management
• Use Turns, GMROI, and other performance metrics to guide restocking decisions and line reviews
• Identify and correct pricing or cost discrepancies before they affect branch operations or customer invoicing
• Support data integrity across the purchasing system - clean data is not someone else's problem

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner with sales teams to respond to product inquiries, source specials, and support customer needs in real time
• Collaborate with warehouse leadership on inbound flow, receiving accuracy, and inventory discrepancy resolution
• Communicate proactively with branch management and executive leadership when supply or pricing issues affect service levels
• Participate in vendor line reviews and program evaluations with cross-functional input

What Success Looks Like

After 90 days, you and your supervisor should both be able to point to these markers:

• Assigned product lines are stocked appropriately across all branches with no preventable outages
• Turns and GMROI metrics are understood, tracked, and trending in the right direction
• Vendor relationships are active and productive - not reactive
• Rebate programs and line-specific incentives are captured, not left on the table
• Product file data in Eclipse is clean, current, and reliable
• Sales and branch teams trust your lines and come to you first when something is wrong

Who Thrives Here

This role is a strong fit if:

• You own your lines - stock performance, cost accuracy, and vendor relationships are yours, not someone else's problem
• You make decisions from data, not instinct alone - and you know which metrics matter in distribution
• You communicate early - with vendors, with sales, with management - and you don't let problems age
• You negotiate with discipline and know what terms are important to Shepherd
• You treat inventory discrepancies as signals requiring investigation, not exceptions to close out
• You want to work where purchasing decisions have a direct and visible impact on customer outcomes

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college degree or equivalent distribution experience preferred
• 2+ years of purchasing, procurement, or buying experience in wholesale distribution - electrical distribution experience strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of purchasing fundamentals as they apply to trade distribution, including Turns, GMROI, fill rates, service levels and rebate management
• Familiarity with accounting practices and cost/pricing terminology
• Strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Windows OS environments
• Experience with Epicor Eclipse Distribution Software is a significant plus
• Familiarity with volume rebate programs and the benefits of group purchasing programs
• Commodity buying experience a plus
• Knowledge of electrical products is a plus
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Work Shift and Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, in office

Compensation Details: The expected base salary for this position is starting at $70,000-$80,000 annually depending on experience.

Why should you join Shepherd Electrical Supply?

At Shepherd Electric Supply, excellence in service, pricing, and products has been our mission since 1892. As the oldest wholesale electrical distributor in the Baltimore/Washington area, we take pride in our exceptional customer service and extensive inventory.

We have a rich history of partnering with industry leaders like Siemens and Eaton, and our commitment to quality and innovation has made us a trusted name in the industry. Join our team and be a part of our legacy!

Apply now and find out what's next for you.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled

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