MRO Parts Technician

Kemps has an immediate job opening for a detail-oriented and reliable MRO Parts Purchaser, responsible for the management of our maintenance, repair, and operations inventory. This role will be the backbone of our maintenance department, ensuring that technicians, engineers, and production teams have the parts, tools, and supplies they need right when they need them. The MRO Parts Purchaser will balance maintaining optimal stock levels with keeping procurement costs in check, managing vendor relationships, and tracking inventory accuracy.

Key Responsibilities

• Procurement & Sourcing: Research, source, and purchase MRO materials, spare parts, tools, and industrial supplies to support plant maintenance and operations.
• Inventory Management: Maintain, organize, and optimize the parts storeroom. Establish and adjust min/max stocking levels to prevent stockouts while avoiding excess inventory.
• Vendor Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers. Negotiate pricing, lead times, and shipping terms to secure the best value and delivery speed.
• CMMS Tracking: Input, update, and track all purchasing data, purchase orders (POs), and parts inventory within the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Receiving & Inspection: Receive incoming maintenance shipments, verify packing slips against purchase orders, inspect parts for quality/correctness, and log them into inventory.
• Kitting & Support: Kit parts and specialized tools required for upcoming planned maintenance tasks and scheduled work orders to streamline technician efficiency.
• Invoice Reconciliation: Work closely with the accounting department to resolve any discrepancies between purchase orders, receiving logs, and vendor invoices.

Kemps is a farmer-owned brand of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), a dairy marketing cooperative owned by more than 12,500 family farmers. Our mark matters and it represents the wholesomeness of dairy that we share with our communities and loved ones. DFA manufactures a variety of dairy products, including cheese, butter, fluid milk, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more, under well-known and established regional brands. Our fingerprints touch thousands of brands across the marketplace, and we're passionate about delivering the simple pleasures of dairy to people everywhere, straight from our family farm-owners. At Kemps, we are proud to provide families with fresh, delicious dairy.

By joining DFA, you can help us continue to make a difference that matters. We care deeply about the well-being of our neighbors and friends, and we celebrate the diversity of our company and our world. It takes an incredible team to deliver the goodness of dairy and enrich our communities - come join us!

OUR MRO PARTS PURCHASERS MAKE:

• $31.80 Per Hour

SCHEDULE: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay
• Paid vacation and holidays*
• Career growth opportunities - we promote from within!
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Service recognition and employee rewards*
• Tuition reimbursement*
• Uniforms provided
• Work for dairy farm families

*varies by company and governing CBAs

Qualifications & Skills Required:

• High school diploma or GED preferred
• 2+ years of experience in purchasing, inventory control, or storeroom management, preferably in an industrial, manufacturing, or maintenance environment.
• Technical Familiarity: Solid understanding of common industrial parts and components (e.g., bearings, seals, hardware, pneumatic/hydraulic fittings, electrical components).
• Software Skills: Proficiency with inventory management software or CMMS platforms, as well as standard office software (Microsoft Excel/Word).
• Organization: High level of organizational skill and attention to detail for tracking part numbers, quantities, and lead times.
• Communication: Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to effectively collaborate with internal maintenance teams and external vendors.

Preferred:

• Experience operating a forklift or pallet jack for unloading shipments.
• A background as a maintenance technician or parts counter specialist who wants to transition into a dedicated purchasing role.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally when receiving and stocking heavier parts.
• Comfortable spending time both at a desk utilizing a computer and on your feet organizing a parts cage or storeroom floor.
• Must be able to pass all pre-employment screenings including drug, background and criminal checks
• Minimum one year experience in a maintenance role within a manufacturing facility, preferably food and beverage industry
• Minimum one year experience with one or more technical experiences: Electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electronic, computer-controlled equipment, PLC and/or HVAC
• Minimum one year experience with a variety of equipment including lubricating, cleaning, material handling, motor control, relay control, process control and packaging equipment
• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals
• Must be able to handle basic hand tools
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel and bend required for virtually the entire shift; occasionally required to climb or balance
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally
• Must be able to work in a cold, wet environment with moderate to high noise volume
• May experience some exposure to fumes airborne particles, chemicals or allergens
• Must be willing to work flexible hours including overtime, weekends, and holiday

An Equal Opportunity Employer including Disabled/Veterans