Strategic Purchasing & Supplier Relations Specialist

Staffmark Group; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 52,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Hunter Hamilton is seeking a Purchasing Specialist to join a growing organization. You will manage supplier relationships, obtain competitive pricing, and coordinate purchasing to ensure materials are available when needed.

You will work with Operations, Sales, and Customer Service to resolve purchasing and inventory issues, maintain records, and pursue cost-saving opportunities while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• College diploma or equivalent education; experience in purchasing, procurement, or materials management strongly preferred.
• Experience working with an MRP or ERP system is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage a high volume of work while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple deadlines.
• Collaborative approach and ability to build effective relationships with suppliers and internal teams.
• Ability to proactively identify issues and work toward practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Manage purchasing activities based on customer requirements, forecasts, and internal needs.
• Source products and obtain competitive pricing through the RFQ process.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while negotiating pricing, freight, and other costs.
• Monitor forecasts and inventory levels to ensure materials are available and prevent shortages.
• Create and manage purchase orders while ensuring quantities and timing align with customer and operational requirements.
• Coordinate secondary processing, including RFQs, purchase orders, supplier follow-up, and delivery schedules.
• Work with suppliers to improve lead times, reduce costs, and minimize obsolete inventory.
• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities with suppliers.
• Partner with Operations, Sales, Customer Service, and other departments to resolve purchasing and inventory issues.
• Coordinate inventory management discussions and assist with the disposition of excess or obsolete inventory.
• Manage freight and customs-related activities, including carrier claims.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to ensure timely delivery and resolve issues affecting customer requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and additional operational projects as needed.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Independent work

Organizational skills

Collaborative

Education

College diploma or equivalent education

Tools

MRP/ERP system

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Hunter Hamilton is seeking a Purchasing Specialist to join a growing organization. You will manage supplier relationships, obtain competitive pricing, and coordinate purchasing to ensure materials are available when needed.

You will work with Operations, Sales, and Customer Service to resolve purchasing and inventory issues, maintain records, and pursue cost-saving opportunities while supporting continuous improvement initiatives.