Purchasing Agent JD and reporting structure
DianeZ
27 Posts
Hello everyone! I am an HR Director in a mfg. company of about 80 employees. I could really use some help from you!
We have had a problem with our purchasing area since long before I started here. (Eight years ago) The primary problem is that in all actuality the Purchasing Agent functions as a purchasing clerk, not as an agent. Much of the purchasing is left up to others to do on their own. Our engineers have to look up their own materials and parts, the same with our production planners or most anyone else that needs something ordered. She'll hand them the catalogues and tell them to look and find what they want and then give her the numbers. Our engineers and production planners have to often times find their own materials and parts. She indicates she doesn't have time or doesn't know what they want. (She's been doing this for over ten years here.) The second problem is she keeps getting shuffled around to different managers because no one seems to want to deal with her inability to function as an agent. The only time there has been any accountability for what she does was when she was under the supervision of our controller/business office manager. But, because she couldn't stand being held accountable, made life miserable for everyone and complained enough, they put her under the General Manager. Since that time she has been moved under the supervision of the production planning supervisor and then the production supervisor. She is not supervised and is basically left to do things as she pleases, which causes a lot of problems that tie in with the business office and the shipping and receiving areas. I need your help! I am looking for two things. First of all, if anyone would be willing to share a copy of their Purchasing Agent job description I would really appreciate it. Also, I am looking for the reporting structure of your Purchasing Agent. Who does this person or this department report to? Thanks for all of your help in advance!
We have had a problem with our purchasing area since long before I started here. (Eight years ago) The primary problem is that in all actuality the Purchasing Agent functions as a purchasing clerk, not as an agent. Much of the purchasing is left up to others to do on their own. Our engineers have to look up their own materials and parts, the same with our production planners or most anyone else that needs something ordered. She'll hand them the catalogues and tell them to look and find what they want and then give her the numbers. Our engineers and production planners have to often times find their own materials and parts. She indicates she doesn't have time or doesn't know what they want. (She's been doing this for over ten years here.) The second problem is she keeps getting shuffled around to different managers because no one seems to want to deal with her inability to function as an agent. The only time there has been any accountability for what she does was when she was under the supervision of our controller/business office manager. But, because she couldn't stand being held accountable, made life miserable for everyone and complained enough, they put her under the General Manager. Since that time she has been moved under the supervision of the production planning supervisor and then the production supervisor. She is not supervised and is basically left to do things as she pleases, which causes a lot of problems that tie in with the business office and the shipping and receiving areas. I need your help! I am looking for two things. First of all, if anyone would be willing to share a copy of their Purchasing Agent job description I would really appreciate it. Also, I am looking for the reporting structure of your Purchasing Agent. Who does this person or this department report to? Thanks for all of your help in advance!
Comments
PS what's your email address?
First of all, if you want to send a private message to someone, click on the icon that looks like a sheet of paper with writing on it and wavy lines to the left of it.
Second of all, if you want a job description to show her what she ought to be doing, you are requesting the right JD. If you want to write a job description that describes her present duties, use one for purchasing clerk. Call the position anything you want, but her payscale should reflect the essential job functions, not the title.
This "mother" of yours sounds more like a "mother dearest" to me....the Fatal Attraction kind. YIKES!!
You know, you have some very weak leaders/s/s and whimps in your team!
Please don't worry there are over 5000 of us and we know maybe the location of one or two both none of the companies, except for me and every one knows my company is the Swine Industry in the great state of Mississippi.
Since you can't get rid of all of your weak leaders, you probably should lay low why you get a new resume on the streets and find a better place to gain job security. Next thing you know "mom" will be nesting in your arena.
Someone should just gain some strength and help everyone with a seperation action call it "quits and let her go!" With all the information you have given, it reads like there is no way that a "constructed discharge or wrongful termination" could be developed on her part.
Our President last week,I am told had a personal meeting with our company "error" that he placed in our arena. He told her enough is enough. Everyone else is happy and trying to work as a team except, she and if she could not straighten out her attitude, then she needs to find a new home or he will personally show her the door.
Someone in authority needs to open the box and let things happen for the companies' sake!
I am sorry we are not big enough to have our own purchasing agent, or I would most definately send you a Job description.
PORK
After you are done fixing this problem, you could consider turning your attention to training. The supervisors need to know something about feedback, evaluations and the discipline process.
As Pork usually says, HR is a support role, her manager(s) should carry the burden of developing this EE into the type of Purchasing Agent they expect.
I work for a manufacturing company too. I will send you a couple of job descriptions that should help you.
Our Purchasing Agent/Mgr reports to the VP Finance/Administration.
Good Luck
Njmhr1109MA