Sr. Purchasing Agent

General Kinematics Corp.; Crystal Lake, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit-sharing bonus

Health and well-being benefits

Paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

General Kinematics Corp. in Crystal Lake, IL, seeks a Sr. Purchasing Agent to lead strategic sourcing, supplier performance, and cost optimization across engineering, operations, sales and finance.

The role partners with cross‑functional teams to ensure procurement decisions align with business objectives and supply continuity. You will drive supplier governance, negotiate contracts, mentor the team, and champion continuous improvement while maintaining ERP data integrity and supporting new

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 5–7+ years of procurement experience in manufacturing or engineered-to-order environments.
• APICS CPIM or CPSM certification is a plus.
• Proven track record in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and negotiations.
• Strong business acumen and cross-functional influence.
• Experience with ERP and data analytics to support decisions.
• Willingness to travel ~15%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies balancing cost, quality, delivery, and risk.
• Analyze material requirements via MRP and align with production scheduling.
• Lead supplier relationship management with performance reviews and governance.
• Partner with Supplier Quality to establish audits and corrective actions.
• Drive negotiations and contracting strategies for sustainable value.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, sales, and finance on design and buy decisions.
• Champion cost leadership through should-cost, value engineering, and cost-reduction programs.
• Provide procurement leadership on projects and new product initiatives.
• Monitor market dynamics to inform sourcing strategies for executives.
• Identify process improvements for procurement efficiency and data integrity.
• Mentor purchasing team members to foster high performance.
• Perform other duties including ERP data integrity and engineering changes.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier development

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

Leadership

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline

Tools

ERP systems

MRP / Materials planning

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