Nicole Atchison
Chisago City,MN
Summary
Procurement professional with robust background in supply chain management and strategic sourcing. Known for enhancing procurement processes and forging strong vendor relationships to deliver cost-effective solutions. Strong focus on collaborative teamwork and achieving strategic purchasing goals, ensuring adaptability to changing market conditions.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Buyer
Gillette Children’s
09.2021 - 12.2025
- Managed purchase orders and supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery and alignment with organizational goals.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to optimize procurement practices and enhance supplier communication.
- Ensured timely ordering of products to prevent interruptions in operations and patient care.
- Drove product and equipment standardization, supporting contract management and supplier negotiations.
- Analyzed product usage and pricing to optimize contracts and identify cost savings opportunities.
- Maintained adaptability while managing multiple priorities and frequent interruptions.
- Prioritized and completed assignments independently, supporting procurement projects from initiation to completion.
- Communicated immediately instructions set forth by the recalling firm and, where necessary, extend the recall to its consignees in accordance with instructions.
Materials Purchasing Coordinator/Buyer
Mercy Hospital
06.2014 - 09.2021
- Buyer supporting over 15 different medical departments with purchases ranging from goods to services.
- Manually create, and track purchase orders.
- Manage the data for my assigned 44 locations with over 3000 individual items, ensuring data accuracy of those 3000 items to impact stock levels, re-order points, re-order quantity, and frequency of ordering to align with Allina Supply Chain Management objectives.
- Work daily within a cross functional setting with nursing and medical professionals, union employees, and hospital leadership to ensure onsite staff have the materials they need to provide first class healthcare to patients.
- Responsible for the quick and effective transmission of information and required action regarding recalls and alerts for impacted products within the hospital.
- Working with nursing leadership to ensure product placement promotes a workflow that is utilized in an effective way.
Corporate Inventory Buyer/Planner
Diversified Distribution System
11.2011 - 05.2014
- Manage key inventory categories by sales analysis history, review trends, develop accurate forecasts by maintaining turns and budget goals.
- Develop, source, and manage 5 categories of product, and cost reductions to achieve sales and meet budget targets.
- Manages assigned suppliers’ compliance with contracts and purchase agreements and investigating new sources of supply when necessary.
- Establish supplier long term agreements and negotiate pricing using cost/price and best value analysis.
- Research and obtain best source and cost information for customer requests for pricing RFP’s.
- Manage, develop RFQ/RFI/RFP bid packages for category buys of $5M. Lead small projects, bid evaluation, analysis, and supplier selection processes. Identifies opportunities in partnership with the category manager.
- Developed master service agreements with key operational suppliers in alignment with the category strategy. Conducted analysis and statistical data.
Sales and Product Planner
ShopNBC
05.2010 - 07.2011
- Manage items to meet or exceed the needs of external customers while preparing show runs in accordance with standards and deadlines.
- Plan and improve business by maximizing long-term and short-term sales using planning philosophies to manage inventory and maximize sales.
- Collaborate with Directors and buying team to plan, manage and execute ongoing merchandise, items & inventory strategies to reach department & division financial objectives.
- Identify and execute promotional items at all levels. That includes recommending reorder levels, presenting large reorder strategies to the group. This includes completing spotlights, maintaining up-to-date data in diverse spreadsheets.
Merchandise Analyst
Gander Mt
04.2008 - 05.2010
- Responsible for open-to-buy management of 5 footwear departments and use of sales forecasting and strategic planning to ensure the sales and profitability of products.
- Forecast inventory needs by replenishing and allocating products by analyzing sales and store sizes.
- Allocation of all 5 footwear department orders to 116 stores by looking at store-specific selling as well as plans. Adjust as needed to react to location trend changes.
- Forecast inventory needs by replenishing and allocating products by analyzing sales and store sizes for upcoming promotional activities to ensure proper inventory levels by store to maximize sales potential.
- Anticipates the needs for upcoming programs and/or seasons, identifies priorities, and follows-through on daily/weekly tasks.
Assistant Buyer/Planner
Macy’s North
10.2006 - 04.2008
- Assisted buyers with product assortment, pricing, and merchandising strategies reflecting goals based on LY historical data, today’s current trends, and future forecasts.
- Ensure timely delivery of the merchandise through consistent communication and follow-up with up to 40 vendors, distribution center, and merchant team on a biweekly basis.
- Enter and maintained on average 60 purchase orders and managed the order log weekly.
- Performed sales analysis and market research on advertised products by gathering comparative and historical data needed to increase sales of our advertised products.
Education
B.S. - Psychology/Behavior Analysis
St. Cloud State University
St. Cloud, MN01.2005
Skills
- Supply chain optimization
- Supplier negotiations
- Supplier relationship management
- Influencing skills
- Researching products
- Customer focus
- Vendor relations
- Inventory monitoring
- Forecasting
- Stock management
- Ordering and purchasing
Timeline
Sr. Buyer
Gillette Children’s
09.2021 - 12.2025
Materials Purchasing Coordinator/Buyer
Mercy Hospital
06.2014 - 09.2021
Corporate Inventory Buyer/Planner
Diversified Distribution System
11.2011 - 05.2014
Sales and Product Planner
ShopNBC
05.2010 - 07.2011
Merchandise Analyst
Gander Mt
04.2008 - 05.2010
Assistant Buyer/Planner
Macy’s North
10.2006 - 04.2008
B.S. - Psychology/Behavior Analysis
St. Cloud State University