Strategic Materials Buyer & Planner

Pivotal Talent Search Inc.; Sterling (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Pivotal Talent Search Inc. is seeking a Buyer who independently sources commodities, negotiates terms, and ensures material availability to support production.

You will manage supplier performance, monitor market conditions, and drive cost-effective procurement decisions within defined authority. The role requires 5–7 years in Materials Management, Lean experience, and strong Microsoft Office skills to update reports and documents while coordinating across engineering, shipping, and production

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5–7 years in Materials Management (Purchasing or Production Planning).
• Lean experience (2+ years) preferred.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office products for updating documents, charts and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Source strategic and non-strategic commodities aligned with plant requirements, cost objectives, and supply continuity.
• Lead day-to-day commercial negotiations including pricing, terms, and LOIs within authority.
• Own sourcing decisions and supplier rationale for assigned commodities.
• Monitor market conditions, supplier capacity, and adjust sourcing strategies accordingly.
• Manage disposition of excess/obsolete materials balancing financial impact.
• Lead materials-related project scopes, timelines, and deliverables.
• Oversee short-term material planning to ensure uninterrupted production.

Skills

Problem-solving

Independent work

Communication

Attention to detail

Lean

MS Office

Technical aptitude

Teamwork

English literacy

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Pivotal Talent Search Inc. is seeking a Buyer who independently sources commodities, negotiates terms, and ensures material availability to support production.

You will manage supplier performance, monitor market conditions, and drive cost-effective procurement decisions within defined authority. The role requires 5–7 years in Materials Management, Lean experience, and strong Microsoft Office skills to update reports and documents while coordinating across engineering, shipping, and production