Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference

Keep the world’s supply chain moving. That’s what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. Whether you’re at one of these locations or in a support-services role, there’s one thread that ties everyone together. We’re all on the same team. One Watco. 

Here’s what you can expect from Watco: 

• Award-winning culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University 
• Career advancement opportunities

Purchasing Analyst 

The Purchasing Analyst role supports and advises Watco teams on supplier onboarding, contract compliance, and purchasing systems optimization.  This role exercises independent judgment in evaluating supplier documentation, interpreting purchasing guidelines, and recommending process or system improvements to gain efficiency and reduce risk.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary supplier onboarding liaison between Operations, Purchasing, Treasury, Accounts Payable, and Legal, ensuring compliance with purchasing guidelines, safety requirements, and supplier risk standards.
• Review supplier onboarding documents and determine acceptability based on Watco’s insurance, safety, and contractual requirements. 
• Analyze purchasing trends and supplier data to identify opportunities for process improvements, reduce supplier risk to Watco’s business, and enhance customer service to internal customers and suppliers.
• Recommend and implement system and workflow improvements to enhance supplier onboarding and contract management.
• Maintain and refine purchasing documentation and training materials; advise departments on best practices and interpretation of guidelines.
• Participate in strategic projects that improve procurement and compliance functions across business units.
• Exercise discretion in prioritizing supplier requests, resolving discrepancies, and escalating legal or contractual issues when necessary.
• Other duties, responsibilities, and projects as requested.

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills; ability to support team members and suppliers across the Watco network.  Ability to work through challenging situations and with personalities. 
• Excellent business judgement: ability to quickly build business acumen to help serve the needs of the organization and engage other team members when needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to listen closely and interpret business needs and risk; ability to create timely, accurate, and succinct written communications; ability to share information and ideas with others.
• Ability to organize and prioritize tasks to ensure timely completion.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and enterprise content/records management systems, electronic records handling, imaging, and emerging technologies.

Education and Experience

• College degree preferred.  Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Information Management, Business Law or related degree is preferred.
• No experience required, purchasing or contracts experience preferred.
• Experience with purchasing, contracts, data management, IT systems, and business systems is a plus, i.e. SAP, Coupa, OpenText

Work Environment

• Travel is required approximately 10% of time
• The team member in this Position is required to lift/exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally

Other Physical Requirements

• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) (Steel Toed Boots, Goggles, Ear Plugs, Gloves and other PPE)