Procurement Specialist

Who We Are 

Boston-based company Piaggio Fast Forward Inc. (PFF) was founded in 2015 by the Piaggio Group (the Italian manufacturer that created the iconic Vespa scooter). We are on a mission to build technology products that move the way that people move. In order to bring products to market today, PFF is solving the problem of robotic interaction with people in dynamically changing environments. We’re innovators, neighbors and creators with a passion for local living and pushing the limits on urban transportation. We support a sustainable mobility ecology with healthy lifestyles and social connectivity available to all, regardless of age or abilities.  

The Role

Piaggio Fast Forward (PFF) is seeking a driven and detail-oriented Procurement Specialist to be responsible for selecting and purchasing quality products for our business. Your responsibilities will include processing purchase orders, negotiating with suppliers, tracking orders, creating and maintaining inventory, quality assurance, maintaining ERP accuracy, and working cross-functionally with the inventory team, engineering, quality, and management. In this role, you will work across departments to forecast the needs of the business and make purchase decisions based on demand. 

The Procurement Specialist should be analytically minded, possess excellent negotiation skills, and be a creative problem solver in order to secure the best prices according to budget. Knowledge of sales and marketing principles is beneficial. 

What You’ll Do

• Research, select, and purchase quality products, materials and services 
• Negotiates pricing and terms with suppliers; analyzing suppliers' operations to determine factors that affect prices and to determine cost consistent with quality, reliability, and ability to meet required schedules. 
• Lead request for proposals (RFP) and bid package efforts and evaluations bids per project requirements; presenting recommendations to management 
• Compiles and analyzes statistical data to determine feasibility of buying products and to establish price objectives 
• Qualifies vendors, monitors supplier performance, and maintains database of supplier information, associated Supplier Scorecard data, in collaboration with Quality department 
• Main point of contact for supplier base, not limited to; coordinates shipping information between suppliers and receiving department, relays quality inspection information, provides changes to drawings/releases, and assigned supplier facing MRB task 
• Process purchasing requisitions for organization and update database on status of orders 
• Track purchases, maintaining open order reporting with vendors and reporting to leadership 
• Ensure orders contain correct quantities, part numbers, revisions and comply with quality standards
• Review production schedule and forecast plan to release purchase orders in support of plan and monitor material movement in production cycle to ensure continuous operations; Update inventory and ensure that inventory levels are kept at appropriate levels. 
• Analyzes inventory levels, production speed, and product demand to determine the amount of finished product that will be produced and material required for procurement 
• Initiates, performs and prepares planning studies, reports and other documents, and reviews these materials for business recommendations 
• Assess quality of stock received and escalate any discrepancies to suppliers and management.
• Maintain ERP integrity and accuracy (Item master data, cross reference maintenance, and other related fields) ensuring accurate planning and purchasing 
• Leads and maintains ERP content related to purchasing and demand management, ensuring alignment with the production plan and forecasted demand 
• Develop process improvements for purchasing, procurement, and ERP management 
• Other tasks and duties as assigned by manager 

Requirements: 

• 4-6 Years Proven work experience as a procurement specialist, buyer, Purchasing Agent or similar role. 
• Bachelor's degree required in Business Supply Chain (or related field) 
• Excellent computer skills (Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint). 
• ERP/MRP experience, specifically with NetSuite required. 
• Critical thinking and negotiation skills. 
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.Ability to work well with a team. Able to thrive in a high-stress and fast-paced environment. 

We like you just the way you are.
Diversity fuels our innovation. Inclusion, belonging, equity, and neurodiversity drives our best-in-class culture. We strive to create workplaces where everyone feels empowered to share ideas, grow at their own pace, and work together towards a shared vision while holding each other to a higher standard. For us, DEI&B is the only way forward.

Employment Eligibility Verification
Piaggio Fast Forward participates in E-Verify, an electronic employment verification program operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA), to verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees. Piaggio Fast Forward is an E-Verify Employer, and as such, the company will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

For more information about E-Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website: https://www.e-verify.gov/