Shipping, Purchasing & Production Agent

Position summary The Shipping, Purchasing & Production Agent owns everything between a paid order and a book in the customer's hands: the shipping schedule, inventory, and every vendor and publisher we buy from. This is a hands-on role. You collaborate with your peers in fulfillment, customer service, and sales to hit ship dates, personally handle vendor relationships, pricing, and purchasing terms, and keep records clean enough that no one has to ask you how something was done. Location Sunrise, FL (on-site) Reports to General Manager Works with Fulfillment, customer service, and sales teams Type Full-time Key responsibilities: Teamwork and accountability Collaborate with peers in fulfillment, customer service, and sales to ensure orders are prioritized, packed, and shipped on target. Own your targets; raise misses and blockers promptly and document how they were resolved. Follow and help maintain written procedures for every recurring task so work is done the same way regardless of who does it. Cross-train with teammates to keep coverage during absences and peak periods. Shipping and fulfillment Own the shipping schedule and ensure every order ships within the target window (same-day or next-business-day for in-stock items; defined windows for backorders and custom assemblies). Monitor open orders daily; escalate and resolve anything at risk of missing its date. Ensure packing accuracy: the right books, tabs, and materials in every package, every time. Maintain carrier accounts and shipping methods; keep shipping cost per order in line with budget. Resolve lost, damaged, and misdirected shipments with the carrier and keep customer service informed. Purchasing and inventory Purchase all codebooks, reference manuals, printed materials, and supplies in time to meet demand, without overbuying. Set and maintain reorder points; forecast purchases from sales trends, class schedules, and upcoming state launches. Track inventory accurately; investigate and correct variances. Issue purchase orders, confirm receipt against the PO and invoice, and route invoices for payment on time. Vendor management and pricing Communicate directly with publishers, printers, distributors, and suppliers; you are the single point of contact for vendor relationships. Secure and maintain reseller or wholesale pricing with every vendor; verify each invoice reflects the agreed discount. Keep resale certificates and tax-exempt documentation current with every vendor so we are not charged sales tax on inventory purchases; recover any tax billed in error. Negotiate volume discounts, freight terms, and payment terms; benchmark pricing across vendors at least annually and move business when it makes sense. Hold vendors to delivery dates and quality; document and escalate recurring problems. Documentation and reporting Keep complete, organized records: POs, invoices, packing slips, vendor agreements, discount terms, tax certificates, and shipping logs. Report weekly to the General Manager on ship-time performance, open backorders, inventory position, and purchasing spend versus budget. Ensure every process is documented well enough that a teammate could step in with minimal handoff. Qualifications Required 2+ years in a shipping, fulfillment, warehouse, or purchasing role, with direct responsibility for hitting targets. Hands-on experience negotiating with vendors and securing wholesale or reseller pricing. Working knowledge of resale certificates and sales-tax exemption on inventory purchases. Strong documentation habits: purchase orders, receiving records, vendor files, written procedures. Comfortable with inventory and order systems, spreadsheets, and carrier portals (UPS, FedEx, USPS). Clear, direct communicator, in writing and on the phone, with vendors and teammates. Preferred Experience buying from publishers or distributors of books, codes, or technical manuals. Experience in an e-commerce or education-products business. Experience in a small print or asse…

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