Purchasing Specialist - Material Procurement

Staffmark Group; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffmark Group is hiring a Purchasing Specialist - Material Procurement in Lenexa, KS. The role focuses on sourcing, negotiating, and managing supplier relationships to support high-volume procurement and inventory management for global clients.

Responsibilities include running forecasts, creating POs, coordinating RFQs, and ensuring timely delivery while optimizing costs. Strong communication, analytical skills, and knowledge of APQP are preferred.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in Supply Chain, Business, Procurement, or related field.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Experience in material acquisition, procurement or supply chain management with supplier negotiation.
• Strong analytical, multitasking and problem-solving abilities under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; team-oriented in a fast-paced environment.
• MRP/ERP environment experience (preferred, e.g., Microsoft Dynamics).
• Background in industrial components or fastener distribution (preferred).
• Familiarity with APQP processes (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Source products based on requests/forecasts from Customer Service and Sales.
• Negotiate pricing, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize purchasing decisions.
• Run forecasts to prevent shortages, manage safety stock, and issue purchase orders.
• Coordinate external procurement for secondary processing; issue RFQs and follow timelines.
• Collaborate with suppliers to set break-point schedules and minimize obsolete inventory.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Customer Service, and clients to disposition slow-moving inventory.
• Maintain supplier relationships; conduct performance evaluations and site visits.
• Facilitate cross-departmental communication and inventory-management meetings.
• File shipping claims and coordinate resolutions with QA as needed.
• Process POs for office and warehouse supplies; manage thresholds for approvals.
• Negotiate freight, broker fees, and USMCA documentation.
• Support special projects as directed by leadership.

Skills

Procurement

Sourcing

Negotiation

USMCA/compliance

APQP

Vendor management

ERP/MRP (Dynamics)

Analytical skills

Education

Associate degree or higher in Supply Chain/Business/Procurement

Tools

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Dynamics / ERP

Job description

Position Title: Purchasing Specialist - Material Procurement

Location: Lenexa, KS

Classification: Exempt / Salaried

Work Schedules: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (60-minute daily meal break)

Summary

A premier international supply chain and industrial fastener distributor is seeking a detail-oriented Purchasing Specialist to join their team. This organization specializes in high-volume component procurement, logistics, and inventory management solutions for global industrial and automotive clients. The Purchasing Specialist plays a vital role in sourcing products, negotiating pricing, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring seamless supply chain flow in accordance with customer demand and internal sales requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Source products based on requests, forecasts, and RFQ indications received from the Customer Service and Sales departments.
• Develop deep product knowledge to negotiate competitive pricing, identify cost-saving initiatives, and optimize purchasing decisions.
• Run forecast modules at scheduled intervals to prevent inventory shortages, manage safety stock, and issue purchase orders following standard purchasing procedures.
• Initiate APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) protocols when required, including during engineering change notices or new product rollouts.
• Coordinate external procurement for secondary processing, including issuing RFQs, generating purchase orders, and tracking status and delivery timelines.
• Collaborate with suppliers to establish break-point schedules and minimize obsolete inventory during engineering modifications or component cancellations.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Customer Service, and end clients to disposition dead or slow-moving inventory and launch supplier cost-reduction projects.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships through regular communication, performance evaluation, and potential vendor site visits.
• Facilitate clear, cross-departmental communication, leading periodic inventory management meetings and treating internal teams as operational partners.
• File shipping claims with carriers for damaged or short shipments and coordinate resolutions with the Quality Assurance team as necessary.
• Issue purchase orders for office and warehouse operational supplies according to management approval thresholds.
• Negotiate freight charges, broker fees, and customs clearance pricing while coordinating USMCA compliance documentation.
• Perform additional duties and support special projects as assigned by operational leadership.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, college diploma, or higher required. Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Procurement, or a related field preferred.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Proven experience in material acquisition, procurement, or supply chain management. Demonstrated capability in sourcing, supplier negotiation, carrier claims management, and trade compliance (including USMCA guidelines).
• Strong analytical, multitasking, and problem-solving capabilities with a high capacity to handle large work volumes under tight deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; proven ability to work effectively in a team-centric, fast-paced environment.
• Prior hands-on experience or exposure within an MRP/ERP-driven inventory environment such as Microsoft Dynamics (preferred).
• Background in industrial component or fastener distribution (preferred).
• Familiarity with APQP processes (preferred).