Purchasing / Administrative Assistant

Sun Gro Horticulture is one of the most prominent North American horticultural companies, employing over 800 staff and serving customers worldwide.

Since its humble beginnings in 1929, it has become the leading supplier of soilless growing mixes to North America’s top 100 greenhouse and nursery growers, shipping over 70,000 truckloads of product annually.

Sun Gro products are made to exacting standards and conform to high product quality and performance criteria.

Sun Gro Horticulture recognizes that its success is due to the strength of its employees.

A primary goal of Sun Gro® is to promote individual employees’ sense of accomplishment and contribution so that employees enjoy their association with Sun Gro Horticulture.

The Company invests in its employees so that they are the most knowledgeable in the industry, and undertakes great efforts to nurture loyalty to, and teamwork at, Sun Gro.

Purchasing / Administrative Assistant (Entry Level) The Purchasing / Administrative Assistant supports the daily purchasing and administrative needs of Sun Gro facilities.

This entry-level role focuses on purchase order creation, supplier follow-up, data entry, and maintaining accurate information within Microsoft Business Central (BC).

The position also requires strong Excel skills, accurate data handling, and basic analytical ability to support purchasing activities such as reviewing inventory levels, comparing quotes, and identifying discrepancies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Purchasing Support Create and process purchase orders for raw materials, MRO supplies, and services as directed.

Review MRP / forecast reports, identify upcoming material needs, and communicate potential shortages or issues to the purchasing team.

Assist with maintaining accurate item data, pricing, vendor records, and reorder points in the BC system.

Update and monitor spreadsheets that track open orders, deliveries, costs, and inventory status.

Supplier Communication & Administration Communicate with suppliers for routine order updates, confirmations, documentation requests, or delivery questions.

Gather vendor quotes and perform basic price and delivery comparisons using Excel.

Assist with collecting and organizing supplier onboarding documents.

Procure-to-Pay Process Match invoices, packing slips, and purchase orders; identify mismatches and assist in resolving discrepancies.

Track invoice issues or outstanding documents using spreadsheets or internal logs.

Maintain organized purchasing files and documentation for audits or internal reviews.

Operational & Site Support Coordinate with operations and receiving teams to verify deliveries and update system records.

Report simple quality or quantity issues to the purchasing team for further review.

Support Safety or Quality teams when purchasing-related records or documentation are needed.

General Administrative Responsibilities Perform data entry, report updates, scanning, filing, and document management.

Prepare Excel-based reports such as open PO lists, cost comparisons, vendor logs, or delivery schedules.

Provide general administrative support to purchasing, operations, and site leadership as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES Strong Excel competency , including :

• Basic formulas, Sorting and filtering Pivot tables (preferred, not required) Ability to organize and clean datasets Analytical skills  to support : Reviewing inventory levels and identifying shortages Comparing supplier quotes Spotting inconsistencies in data or invoices Updating reports and identifying basic trends Excellent attention to detail and accuracy with data entry.
• Good organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong communication skills in both written and verbal form.
• Ability to learn ERP / MRP systems, especially Microsoft Business Central (BC).
• Positive, proactive attitude with a willingness to take initiative and learn new tasks.
• Ability to work effectively with suppliers, operations, and internal teams.
• Professional, dependable, and able to maintain confidentiality.
• EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred. 0–2 years of experience in purchasing, supply chain, office administration, or similar roles preferred.
• Experience with Excel or data-heavy administrative work is strongly preferred.
• Manufacturing environment experience is helpful but not required.
• ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS Office-based role requiring extensive use of computers, Excel, phones, and standard office equipment.
• Occasional lifting of office products or files up to 20 pounds.
• Limited travel; mainly local and only when necessary.
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