At Varsity Brands, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed and every educator wants to make a difference. It takes a team to make a real impact, and through our three distinct brands – BSN SPORTS, Varsity Spirit and Herff Jones – and our network of 9,000+ employees and independent representatives, we are proud to partner with schools, colleges and universities across the country to transform the student journey in SPORT, SPIRIT and ACHIEVEMENT.
Are you looking to play an important role on a winning team? Are you looking for more than “just a job,” but a place where you can truly thrive and have your daily contributions make a real difference in someone’s life? At Varsity Brands we’re a growing company where you can lend your skills and talents in support of a greater mission. In return, you get to work with great people on challenging assignments that will accelerate your professional growth.
HERFF JONES, Purchasing Agent – Warwick, RI
YOUR OPPORTUNITY:
The Herff Jones Operations team, based in Warwick, RI is looking for a Buyer/Planner/Stone Specialist to join our team.
Here’s How You’ll Make an Impact:
Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, the Stone Buyer’s primary job function is the planning and the procurement of gemstones, along with providing basic knowledge pertaining to sourcing, availability, and common attributes of gemstones.
At Herff Jones we may have been around for 100 years, but we still have the mentality of a scrappy startup. For you, that means your job may grow and change over time. But don’t worry, we would never ask an employee to take on an assignment they didn’t already have the right skill sets they needed to succeed. As we see it for right now, however, here are the challenges that we want you to tackle:
General Purchasing Responsibilities:
Process purchase orders
Assist in coordinating special request purchases
Provide lead times to manufacturing
Responsible for sourcing/procuring “special cut” gemstones in various qualities
Update and maintain all vender specifications and information
Communicate across different channels with venders, off site employees, different departments and all personnel on matters of gemstone purchases
Maintain accurate information on purchase orders
Assist in providing all invoice and Po information for account payables
Creating and following through with yearly forecasts, and any other analytical data regarding gemstones
Responsible for basic knowledge on imports and exports of USA customs
Maintain relevant data on CAI, Oracle, and inventory master file for purchased items
Setup of new purchased parts (gemstone specific)
Acquire quotes from vendors to optimize cost controls
Maintain system prices
Provide full detail reports for stock outs on late orders
Perform all other miscellaneous purchasing duties as assigned.
Gemstone Related Responsibilities
Maintain and provide gemstone market availability as required
Delegate/ plan for priority items with venders
Assist production with fulfillment of orders upon receipt of gemstones
Conduct research and record basic genuine gemstone and diamond information pertaining to prices, market value and gemstone attribute
Maintain basic knowledge of international exchange rates
Responsible for the communication of gemstone schematics between production and vendor
Perform inventory transactions for gemstones as needed
Provide resolution to quality issues
Analyzing/ fixing potential stone set production problems, with out of tolerance stones, tooling errors, and system errors.
Assisting IT with gemstone related functionalities
Assist in mid-year and end of year inventories as needed
Assist marketing personal and product development in acquiring any new stone option to optimize our product offering
Responsible for executing obsolete inventory tasks which include, deactivating item numbers, transactional functions, and actively removing stones from stockroom.
Providing production guidance with quality standards
Creating basic gemstone reports for customers in which require them
Assist with any special projects requiring gemstones of any kind
What You’ll Bring to the Table:
2 -3 years of experience in a similar role in addition to meeting the following requirements:
Education / Certifications Required:
High school diploma or equivalent required
Some college preferred
Certification in Gemology (GIA) helpful
Equipment – Good typing and communication skills. Familiarity with microscopes, digital calipers, gauges, scales, measurement rules and CAD file interpretation is a plus
Software – knowledge using Microsoft suite required / Oracle and Jmas experience a plus
Experience – Production/Material Control and/or Purchasing are helpful.
Other – math, critical thinking skills, teamwork, and organization skills required
THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN CELEBRATING STUDENT MILESTONES – HERFF JONES
Herff Jones is the leading provider of graduation and educational products and services designed to inspire achievement and create memorable experiences for students. Herff Jones’ products include class rings and jewelry, caps and gowns, yearbooks, diplomas, frames, announcements and Greek accessories as well as motivation and recognition programs. Since 1920, our team has worked alongside students, faculty and staff on campuses nationwide to help build a stronger community and celebrate student milestones. Our continued success relies on hiring extraordinary talent, with a passion for making a difference and eagerness to roll up the sleeves, to help us write the story of our next 100 years.
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