Inventory Specialist

Department
Summary: At the VCU Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, our mission is to foster transformative research, discovery, and innovation at Virginia Commonwealth University through excellence in service.

We partner with faculty in all schools and departments as they seek funding, plan studies, establish collaborations, calculate budgets,submit grant applications, negotiate industry contracts, and secure patents and licensing agreements.

Our commitment to supporting and elevating the research community at VCU has resulted in record levels of sponsored research and hasplaced VCU among the nation’s premier public research universities.

Through our passion for discovery and willingness to take on challenges, we continue to advance the work that matters most and position the university as a national leader in research,innovation, creativity, and scholarship.

To assist the Operation’s Supervisor, with direct and limited supervision, in the business operations of the VCU Supply Centers,including inventory management and customer/vendor interactions,along with financial management of designated supply center. The Inventory Specialist is responsible for ordering, receiving and handling products for the VCU Research community. The incumbent will provide instant access to molecular biological reagents,disposables and equipment from 31 vendors at negotiated discount pricing with no shipping/handling charges.

Specific duties include managing customer orders and day-to-day operations for the VCUSupply Center; providing inventory control; conduct regular interaction with vendors to optimize operations; and providing superior customer service to customers.

Receives customer orders from RAMS-FORCE and compiles all orders into a consolidated order template, which is used for all 31vendors. Understands procedures for placing orders with vendors to replenish stock and order customer “special orders”. Orders areplaced normally twice a week (Mondays and Wednesday), but occasional additional orders may be placed. Most vendor orders areplaced using the company website referencing a blanket purchase order. Once orders have been placed and verified for the discounted pricing / free shipping/handling, all orders are recorded in aspreadsheet for inventory and accounting purposes.

As orders are completed, the spreadsheet is updated to reflect the vendor orderas closed. All order documentation is filed and kept on hand incase of customer and/or product issues.

Receives daily deliveries of products. Each item of order is verified against the vendor packing slip for accuracy and is initialed and dated. All products are stored according to the manufacturer specifications with proper handling. Packing slips arethen verified against the original vendor orders to ensure accuracy and completion of order. Completed orders with the necessary documentation are recorded as closed in a spreadsheet and filedaway.

Stocked items are rotated as needed in order to avoid outdated inventory. Outdated inventory (if any occurs) is recorded and is either properly disposed or returned to vendor.

Once orders have been picked up by the customer, orders are considered complete for billing purposes. Using the order number,the order is entered into RAMS-FORCE and submitted for invoice processing. All orders are reconciled on a monthly basis, matching sales/margin reports for accuracy. If there are any refund of products or index updates, dated notations are completed to record these transactions.

Listens to and anticipates the needs of the customers. Interacts with customers in a respectful manner, appreciating the diversity and…