Purchasing Manager

Edward Don & Company; Woodridge (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Edward Don & Company is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead procurement for foodservice products, equipment, and operational supplies across multiple distribution centers. You will ensure optimal inventory levels, drive cost-effective purchasing strategies, and build strong partnerships with stakeholders.

The ideal candidate is data-driven, strategic, and capable of developing high-performing teams while improving supplier performance, service levels, and inventory turns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years in purchasing, inventory management, demand planning, or related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of supervisory or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of purchasing, inventory management, and replenishment practices.
• Experience with Purchasing, Inventory, and Demand Management systems.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead purchasing for foodservice products, equipment, and operational supplies across multiple distribution centers.
• Maintain adequate inventory to support projected sales and service levels.
• Monitor inventory performance and optimize stock levels while minimizing costs.
• Review expedited purchasing requests and identify cost-effective solutions to meet operational needs.
• Partner with distribution center teams to prioritize receipt of critical purchase orders.
• Evaluate supplier performance and collaborate with vendors to improve service levels, product availability, and inventory turns.
• Negotiate supplier agreements and work with vendors to improve purchasing terms and order efficiencies.
• Lead supplier meetings to address issues, drive accountability, and strengthen business partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve procurement effectiveness.
• Analyze purchasing and inventory data to optimize replenishment strategies and support service-level goals.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to improve procurement processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide guidance on inventory planning and MRP settings to support business objectives.
• Leverage data and reporting to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Buyers and procurement professionals.
• Establish performance expectations and provide regular feedback, coaching, and career development opportunities.
• Monitor team productivity and ensure timely purchase order maintenance and issue resolution.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development planning.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding activities.
• Recommend personnel actions including promotions, transfers, salary adjustments, and disciplinary actions, as appropriate.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture.
• Serve as a key procurement partner to internal stakeholders across operations, distribution, sales, and supply chain functions.
• Communicate department priorities, business updates, and process changes to the team.
• Keep leadership informed of significant issues, risks, and opportunities requiring escalation or support.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Position Summary

The Purchasing Manager will lead the procurement of foodservice products, equipment, and operational supplies across multiple distribution centers, ensuring optimal inventory levels, supplier performance, and service continuity. This role drives cost-effective purchasing strategies, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement while building strong partnerships across the business. The ideal candidate is a strategic, data-driven leader who develops high-performing teams, fosters collaboration, and delivers results through effective decision-making and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in purchasing, inventory management, demand planning, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of supervisory, team lead, or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of purchasing, inventory management, and replenishment practices.
• Experience working with Purchasing, Inventory, and Demand Management systems.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with SAP or other enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
• Experience in foodservice, distribution, supply chain, or related industries.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Inventory & Demand Planning
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Negotiation & Influencing Skills
• Data Analysis & Reporting
• Process Improvement
• Team Leadership & Development
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Communication & Relationship Building
• Results Orientation

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing & Inventory Management

• Lead purchasing activities for foodservice products, equipment, and operational supplies across multiple distribution centers.
• Ensure adequate inventory levels to support projected sales and service-level objectives.
• Monitor inventory performance and implement strategies to optimize stock levels while minimizing costs.
• Review expedited purchasing requests and identify cost-effective solutions to meet operational needs.
• Partner with distribution center teams to prioritize receipt of critical purchase orders.

Supplier Management & Strategic Sourcing

• Evaluate supplier performance and collaborate with vendors to improve service levels, product availability, and inventory turns.
• Negotiate supplier agreements and work with vendors to improve purchasing terms and order efficiencies.
• Lead supplier meetings to address issues, drive accountability, and strengthen business partnerships.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve procurement effectiveness.

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Analyze purchasing and inventory data to optimize replenishment strategies and support service-level goals.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to improve procurement processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide guidance on inventory planning and material requirements planning (MRP) settings to support business objectives.
• Leverage data and reporting to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Buyers and procurement professionals.
• Establish performance expectations and provide regular feedback, coaching, and career development opportunities.
• Monitor team productivity and ensure timely purchase order maintenance and issue resolution.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support employee development planning.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding activities.
• Recommend personnel actions including promotions, transfers, salary adjustments, and disciplinary actions, as appropriate.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture.

Communication & Collaboration

• Serve as a key procurement partner to internal stakeholders across operations, distribution, sales, and supply chain functions.
• Communicate department priorities, business updates, and process changes to the team.
• Keep leadership informed of significant issues, risks, and opportunities requiring escalation or support.
• Perform other duties as assigned