Purchasing Assistant

AVIAN is seeking a Purchasing Assistant to join AVIAN's corporate accounting team at its headquarters in Lexington Park, Maryland. The Purchasing Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting procurement activities for an employee-first company that primarily supports the Department of Defense. We have approximately 350 employees and purchase a significant number of items for both the company and our government customers.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute significantly to our company's operational efficiency and compliance in a dynamic government contracting environment. The ideal candidate will combine technical expertise with a customer-oriented approach to drive procurement excellence across our organization.

At AVIAN (pronounced *a-v-yin*) we believe in the extraordinary potential of every individual. As an employee owner at AVIAN, you will find that we have cultivated an employee-first mentality. By prioritizing talent over experience, we ensure that every hire we make is as unique as the position that they will be filling.

Here on our team, we embrace new challenges and focus on continuous learning which fosters growth mindsets in all our employee owners; whether you are joining the workforce for the very first time or if you're a seasoned professionals who has their eyes set on retirement.

Our commitment to providing our customers and employees with an unmatched experience sets us apart. We believe that every team member has a stake in the success of AVIAN, and we strive to ensure that each member of our team knows that their contributions matter. You can be sure as an employee owner you will celebrate both your individual and our collective triumphs.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of the AVIAN philosophy. Being part of the AVIAN team means being part of a team that takes pride in being expansive in our community because our impact doesn't stop in the workplace. We actively engage in community initiatives, empowering our employees to make a meaningful difference.

We believe that employee investment shouldn't be a one-way street, so we offer benefits that normalize balancing mental wellness and family time with work responsibilities. From Flexible Time Off to Wellness Reimbursements we want all our team members to achieve the highest levels of life/work balance.

AVIAN - where creative, talented minds flourish, and where proactive, productive, proficient professionals feel valued.

Procurement Management

Manage the full procurement cycle, including sourcing, evaluating, and purchasing goods and services in compliance with government regulations and company policies

• Generate and process purchase orders, track delivery status, and maintain effective communication with vendors to ensure timely and accurate deliveries

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, negotiating favorable terms and contracts to optimize cost savings

• Ensuring that purchased products and materials meet specific technical specifications

• Complete credit card reconciliation on a monthly basis for any purchases

Compliance and Reporting

• Stay up to date with relevant government contracting and purchasing regulations, ensuring all procurement activities adhere to these guidelines

• Generate comprehensive reports on procurement activities, providing regular updates to management on key performance indicators and cost-saving initiatives

• Assist in the preparation and management of documentation for government audits and reviews

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work closely with HR, finance, and project management teams to support purchasing requirements across the organization and its subsidiaries

• Coordinate with accounting to ensure accurate billing and payment processing for both government contracts and subcontractors

• May support other areas in the accounting group with the assistance of the Accounting Manager

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency in procurement operations

• Assist in the development and maintenance of procurement policies and procedures

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in procurement, accounting, finance, preferably in a government contracting environment.
• Experience with Costpoint and Time & Expense systems is highly desirable

Qualifications:

• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in handling procurement-related documentation

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with employees at all levels of the organization

• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise good judgment, and make decisions within established guidelines
• Proactive and positive attitude towards customer support and problem-solving
• Due to the sensitivity of customer-related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.

Salary range:$52,000 - 74,000 (The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.)

At AVIAN, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being. Our health and wellness benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with telemedicine services and a TRICARE supplement for veterans. Financially, we provide flexible spending accounts (FSA), a 401(k) plan with company contributions, and an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Additional perks like wellness reimbursements and referral bonuses are also available.

For insurance protection, we offer basic life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, disability benefits, and AFLAC supplemental insurance. In terms of life, work, and family, we provide flexible time off, paid sick leave, maternity and bonding leave, and military training leave. Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities are available to help you grow. We also offer pet insurance, identity protection, and life assistance programs. At AVIAN, we prioritize a balanced, supportive environment that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally.

AVIAN is a service-based organization. As an equal opportunity employer, our policy of business is to seek the most qualified candidate for each talent opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, religious belief, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, physical or mental handicap, lawful political affiliation or veteran's status.