Purchasing Support Specialist

Company DescriptionBlack Box Safety, Inc. is a small business in El Cajon, CA providing mission-critical supplies to government agencies. We support Emergency Response and mission readiness with products that reduce risk and save lives—including Emergency Response, Infection Control, Jan/San, Medical, Office, Police/Fire/EMS, and Safety Products. Our customers include the CA Department of Corrections, Highway Patrol, VA Healthcare, CSU/UC Universities, and more.Role DescriptionWe’re hiring an experienced Purchasing Specialist to assist our Sales and Order Processing teams by owning the purchasing workflow once a quote becomes a sales order. You’ll create and submit vendor purchase orders, obtain confirmations, track shipments, and resolve vendor/order issues. This is a detail-heavy role for someone who is organized, computer savvy, and comfortable working across multiple systems and vendor portals.Responsibilities Convert sales orders into accurate vendor Purchase Orders (POs); split into multiple POs when neededResearch vendors/suppliers and obtain competitive pricing for materials, goods, and servicesEvaluate suppliers based on price, quality, availability, lead time, and performancePlace orders via vendor portals/platforms and standard ordering channels (e.g., common supplier portals)Obtain vendor order confirmations and route them to appropriate internal contacts/processSchedule deliveries, request tracking information, and follow up to prevent delaysResolve shipping issues, substitutions, backorders, and other order discrepanciesMaintain organized purchasing documentation (receipts, records, order files)Support internal quote/pricing preparation as needed (discounts, margins, profitability)QualificationsProficient in Excel and OutlookStrong computer skills; comfortable learning new systems and vendor portals quicklyHighly organized with excellent attention to detailStrong time management and follow-through; able to meet deadlines with urgencyAbility to multi-task effectively in a fast-paced environmentAbility to calculate discounts, percentages, and gross profit/margins using basic formulasStrong communication and teamwork skillsAbility to touch-type efficientlyPay & Benefits$28-$35/hour (DOE)Benefits package included (medical/vision/dental, PTO, paid holidays, etc.)Work LocationEl Cajon, CA (On-site only)