Purchasing Customer Service Representative

Click here to apply for this position.
Click here to view a full job description.

Job Title:  Purchasing Customer Service Representative

Reports to:  Chief Operations Officer

About EducationPlus

EducationPlus is an education service center/cooperative that provides a complete line of purchasing services to over 50 member school districts/charter schools and hundreds of other educational institutions and governmental entities throughout Missouri and Southern Illinois. EducationPlus adds value to the purchasing process for customers because the bidding, invoicing, and customer service is handled for them.  Our goal is to promote efficient use of educational dollars, and simultaneously provide an ongoing market for those vendors doing business with EducationPlus.

About the job
The Purchasing Customer Service Representative will support the Cooperative Purchasing function of the organization by performing the essential functions in the areas listed below. The incumbent will communicate daily with school district personnel and staff from other nonprofit organizations as well as with vendors.

Essential Functions:

·         Acts as liaison between vendor and customer.

·         Provides customers with information regarding ordering procedures, terms and conditions, and online system information.

·         Assists customers in selecting and pricing of products and services.

·         Processes and inputs purchase orders into the system from online, email, and faxed orders

·         Handles customer questions, problems, and issues in a timely manner

·         Acts as a District Trainer for the online ordering system

·         Processes and scans vendor invoices

·         Invoices customers (schools and other organizations)

·         Assists employees with finding products and placing orders

·         Reviews Accounts Receivables Register monthly and contacts customers regarding unpaid balances

·         Assists in preparation of AEPA contracts

·         Assists in preparation of bid documents and in evaluation of bids

·         Provides customer service

·         Updates and maintains user information in the online ordering system

·         Provides coverage of the front desk, when necessary

·         Performs other such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Chief Operations Officer or Chief Executive Officer

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

·         Regular attendance is required to provide support to Business Services

·         Possess strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, work in groups, communicate both verbally and non-verbally in a professional manner, and solve problems

·         Requires movement about and within a department area

·         Reads and interprets correspondence, reports, contracts, purchase orders, invoices, etc. for administrative purposes

·         Operates computer hardware/software; stays abreast of changes in technology and participates in necessary training to maintain appropriate level of skill necessary for efficiency in the position

·         Visually obtains information from computer

·         Develops information for written reports and correspondence to officials inside and outside the organization

·         Communicates with employees, members, vendors, etc. via telephone, email and mail

·         Edits and proofreads documents for accurate descriptions, pricing, etc.

·         Performs general math functions, including adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, computing percentages, discounts, and other mathematical functions commonly associated with procurement and business office functions

Required Education/Experience/Certifications/Licensures:

·         Requires the use of common sense understanding of instructions in written, oral or diagrammatic form; the ability to handle problems involving concrete variables in standardized situations; the use of general math, reading, writing and conversing at a level commonly associated with a high school diploma

Preferred Education/Experience/Certifications/Licensures:

·         Technical skills, reading, writing and conversing at a level commonly associated with an Associates degree (or equivalent) or higher degree

Physical Demands:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or exerts up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or exerts a negligible amount of force constantly.  Must be able to perform duties that require sitting for extended periods of time during normal shift; must have excellent manual dexterity including the ability to perform repetitive motions; must be able to operate telephone, computer equipment, and various other pieces of office equipment

Environmental Working Conditions:

This position operates in a professional office and/or school environment.

Must be able to concentrate, pay close attention to detail, and be able to stay focused on assigned tasks; must always maintain a calm demeanor and be able to respond to phone and computer requests; must be able to utilize excellent time management skills and work effectively with minimum supervision.

Equipment Used:

Standard office equipment, including but not limited to computer/laptop and associated software, copy machine, mail machine, printers, scanners, facsimile machines, adding machine/calculator, etc.

Travel Requirements:

Requires ability and means to travel to work sites within the membership area.

Expected Hours of Work:

Normal operating hours for this position are 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, unless it is determined by administration that hours should be different. Some evening or weekend work may be required on a periodic basis.  Summer hours (June & July) are 7:30-5:00 Monday through Thursday.

This position allows for remote work, up to two days per week with supervisor approval, after an initial probationary period.

Term of Employment:    Full Time.

Please click the link at the beginning of the job description to apply for this position.