Purchasing Agent/Buyer

Lee Hecht Harrison Nederland B.V.; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision plans

401(k) match

Job summary

LHH is seeking an experienced Purchasing Analyst / Buyer in Illinois to drive data-driven inventory and supplier decisions. You will analyze demand, inventory levels, and purchasing trends, managing orders from planning through receipt while coordinating with internal teams and suppliers.

The role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication to optimize spend and service levels. Salary ranges from $65,000 to $85,000 plus bonus, depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Must have degree in supply chain or related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience analyzing inventory, demand, and supplier performance.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel functions.
• Ability to translate data into actionable purchasing decisions.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Create, place, and manage purchase orders for food, disposables, equipment, and other supply chain products.
• Analyze demand, usage, forecasts, and inventory to determine replenishment needs.
• Monitor inventory to identify shortages or excess and adjust plans.
• Collaborate with Operations, Customer Service, Logistics, Finance, and Account Management.
• Develop supplier relationships and monitor pricing, lead times, and performance.
• Track purchase orders, resolve shortages, discrepancies, and delays.
• Support strategic sourcing, supplier evaluations, and contract compliance.
• Generate reports on inventory turns, supplier performance, and purchasing spend.
• Maintain accurate item master data and supplier records.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Data-driven decision making (inventory

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

PivotTables

VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP

INDEX/MATCH

Job description

LHH is seeking an experienced Purchasing Analyst / Buyer with strong purchasing expertise and a data-driven approach to inventory and supply management. This role will analyze demand, inventory levels, purchasing trends, and supplier performance to make informed buying decisions and maintain appropriate inventory levels.

The ideal candidate will manage the purchasing process from demand analysis and replenishment planning through purchase orders, supplier coordination, and product receipt. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication with internal teams and suppliers are essential. The anticipated salary for this position is between $65,000 and $85,000 a year plus bonus.

Responsibilities

• Create, place, and manage purchase orders for food, disposables, equipment, and other supply chain products supporting customer programs.
• Analyze customer demand, usage patterns, forecasts, and inventory levels to determine purchasing and replenishment requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels and proactively identify potential shortages, excess inventory, and changing demand patterns.
• Partner with Operations, Customer Service, Logistics, Finance, and Account Management to ensure purchasing decisions align with customer needs and operational requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships while monitoring pricing, lead times, service levels, and overall supplier performance.
• Follow up on purchase orders and deliveries, addressing shortages, discrepancies, delays, and other issues as they arise.
• Coordinate urgent and time-sensitive purchasing needs while balancing cost, availability, and customer requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchase pricing, supplier terms, agreements, and related information within ERP systems.
• Research and resolve invoice discrepancies involving pricing, quantities, freight charges, or payment terms.
• Support strategic sourcing activities, including supplier evaluations, cost-reduction opportunities, contract compliance, and supplier selection.
• Develop and analyze reports related to inventory turns, supplier performance, purchasing spend, and key purchasing metrics.
• Maintain accurate purchasing documentation, item master data, supplier records, and other procurement information.
• Identify unusual or inconsistent ordering patterns and collaborate with customer-facing teams to investigate and resolve issues.
• Analyze vendor FOB pricing against delivered landed costs and partner with the Logistics team to identify the most cost-effective purchasing and delivery options.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives designed to strengthen purchasing processes, controls, efficiency, and overall supply chain performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• 2–5 years of experience in purchasing, buying, procurement, or a related role with direct responsibility for inventory analysis, purchasing decisions, supplier management, and purchase order execution.
• Experience purchasing food, beverage, consumable products, or similar categories is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze inventory, customer demand, purchasing trends, and supplier performance to support data-driven decisions.
• Experience working with ERP systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including proficiency with PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and other data analysis functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on identifying trends, opportunities, and potential issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and manage external supplier relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment while managing competing priorities.
• Ability to multitask, independently prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently while following established guidelines and completing assignments accurately and efficiently.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with low deductibles and significant company contributions
• Insurance Benefits: Company-provided life insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) coverage
• 401(k) Plan: 100% company match on employee contributions up to 6%, with immediate full vesting
• Paid Time Off: First year—5 vacation days and 5 sick days; after one year—10 vacation days and 5 sick days (front-loaded). Additional PTO may be negotiable.
• On-Site Fitness Center: Fully equipped gym with showers available to employees
• Wellness & Voluntary Benefits: Employee wellness programs plus a variety of additional voluntary benefit options
• Hybrid Work Flexibility: Up to 8 work-from-home days per month after completing 90 days of employment

Pay Details

$65,000.00 to $85,000.00 per year

Search managed by: Mike Abete

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply

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The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.