Procurement Specialist: Direct Materials & Cost Optimization

Advanced Drainage Systems; Hilliard (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Advanced Drainage Systems, based in Ohio, seeks a Procurement Specialist to oversee direct material purchasing across recycling and direct material categories. The role emphasizes data-driven savings, supplier negotiations, and cross-functional teamwork to improve cost, quality, and delivery.

You will create purchase orders, manage invoices, and coordinate with schedulers and category managers to drive savings while ensuring timely fulfillment and robust supplier relationships.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree preferably in Business, Supply Chain Management, related Operations discipline, Logistics or Engineering.
• Or pursuing or completed an associate degree in business or supply chain management.
• Internship within procurement, supply chain, or business management, a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in a purchasing function in heavy manufacturing & multi-tasking environment.

Responsibilities

• Direct Material Purchasing activities, directives, and improvement initiatives across all Recycling & Direct Material categories: Polyethylene resin, Polypropylene resin, gaskets, fittings, masterbatch, sock, tape, and allied.
• Collaborate with Item Level Schedulers, Procurement Specialists, and Category Managers to identify, effectively communicate, and drive continuous improvement to the Planning Process.
• Create Purchase orders, calculate all order costs and evaluate invoices for accuracy. Keep track of all goods and services ordered. Prepare and update reports, records, and pricing.
• Utilize Oracle reports to exercise pull-in and push-out analysis, ensure timely invoices payments, and accurate supply dates.
• Participate in interactions between project teams, vendors, purchasing organization, extended support functions and senior leadership to support procurement and new supplier set needs while optimizing cost, cash flow, quality, and service.
• Monitor industry trends and best practices for process optimization opportunities.
• Ability to perform research to identify savings opportunities and execute project plan to show actualized savings.
• Support and lead AWPT term negotiations by compiling negation data, determining anchoring position, and collaborating with internal stakeholders to execute negotiations.
• Support business continuity through process documentation creation: Standard Work, Process Flow Documents.
• Demonstrated ability to concisely present to internal stakeholders and lead collaborative meetings between internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Strong computer skills

Multitask

Time management

Independent work

Detail orientation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Supply Chain

Associate degree in business or supply chain

Procurement internship

Tools

Oracle ERP

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Advanced Drainage Systems, based in Ohio, seeks a Procurement Specialist to oversee direct material purchasing across recycling and direct material categories. The role emphasizes data-driven savings, supplier negotiations, and cross-functional teamwork to improve cost, quality, and delivery.

You will create purchase orders, manage invoices, and coordinate with schedulers and category managers to drive savings while ensuring timely fulfillment and robust supplier relationships.