Sr. Purchasing Agent

General Kinematics; Crystal Lake (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing bonus

Health and well-being programs

PTO and career development

Job summary

General Kinematics is a premier manufacturer of vibrating equipment for bulk materials processing. The Sr. Purchasing Agent leads sourcing strategies, supplier performance, and cost optimization to support growth and operational excellence.

You will influence design, planning, and make-versus-buy decisions across engineering, operations, sales and finance. With 5–7+ years in manufacturing procurement, you will drive negotiations, supplier governance, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of progressive procurement experience in a manufacturing or engineered-to-order environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline preferred (or equivalent experience).
• APICS CPIM or CPSM certification (or similar professional certification) is a plus.
• Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and complex negotiations.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies balancing cost, quality, delivery, and risk.
• Analyze and manage material requirements through the ERP system and align with production scheduling.
• Lead supplier relationship management including performance reviews and capability assessments.
• Partner with Supplier Quality to establish supplier governance, audits, and corrective action.
• Drive commercial negotiations and contracting strategies to achieve sustainable value.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, sales and finance on make-versus-buy decisions.
• Champion cost leadership initiatives, including should-cost analysis and value engineering.
• Provide procurement leadership on key projects and early involvement in planning.
• Analyze market dynamics to inform sourcing strategy and executive decisions.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance procurement efficiency and data integrity.
• Mentor and develop purchasing team members.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Negotiations

Supplier development

Cross-functional influence

Data analytics

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline preferred (or equivalent experience)

APICS CPIM or CPSM certification (or similar)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Description

General Kinematics is the premier manufacturer of vibrating equipment for the processing of bulk materials. From vibratory feeders to entire process systems, General Kinematics creates the solutions customers require to process even the most difficult materials.

Sr. Purchasing Agent is a strategic procurement leader responsible for driving sourcing strategies, supplier performance, and cost optimization initiatives that support company growth and operational excellence. This role serves as a key business partner to engineering, operations, sales and finance, ensuring procurement decisions align with organizational objectives, risk management priorities, and long-term supply continuity.

In addition to managing critical supplier relationships and negotiations, this position provides leadership within the purchasing function, guiding best practices, supporting capability development, and championing continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, delivery, and risk while supporting business and operational goals.
• Analyze and manage material requirements through the MRP system, ensuring alignment with production scheduling and inventory management.
• Lead supplier relationship management, including performance reviews, capability assessments, and long-term partnership development.
• Partner closely with the Supplier Quality team to establish and maintain supplier governance processes, including audit programs, performance metrics, and corrective action oversight.
• Drive commercial negotiations and contracting strategies to achieve sustainable value and mitigate supply chain risk.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, operations, sales and finance to influence design, planning, and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Champion cost leadership initiatives, including should-cost analysis, value engineering, and structured cost-reduction programs.
• Provide procurement leadership on key projects, including early involvement in project planning and new product initiatives.
• Analyze market dynamics and supply trends to inform sourcing strategies and executive decision-making.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance procurement efficiency, scalability, and data integrity.
• Mentor and support development of purchasing team members, promoting a high-performance, collaborative team culture.
• Perform other tactical duties as required to optimize procurement processes such as maintaining data integrity in the ERP system, supporting engineering changes, etc.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline preferred (or equivalent experience).
• 5–7+ years of progressive procurement experience in a manufacturing or engineered-to-order environment.
• APICS CPIM or CPSM certification (or similar professional certification) is a plus.
• Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and complex negotiations.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience leveraging ERP systems and data analytics to support decision-making.
• Proven ability to lead initiatives, manage competing priorities, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to travel approximately 15%.

Pay

$80,000 to $100,000 paid annually. The range provided is a guideline and not a guarantee of compensation. Other factors that are involved in offer decisions include, and are not limited to a candidate’s experience, qualifications, geography, and internal equity.

Benefits

The position also comes with an annual profit-sharing incentive bonus payment. Our benefit programs provide choice and flexibility to meet the needs of you and your family. This includes health and well-being, financial planning tools, career development, PTO, and more.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

EOE M/F/D/V