Supply Chain Analyst / Procurement Associate

Conexus Food Solutions; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles Austin Holdings in Chicago, IL is seeking a Supply Chain Procurement Associate to manage daily replenishment, purchase orders, and inventory data using our Excel-based tools and AI enhancements. You will own vendor quality resolution, production planning, and data-driven decision support to prevent stockouts and optimize margins, reporting to the Managing Partner.

The role requires attention to detail, comfort on the warehouse floor, and ability to lift up to 50 lbs, with a Monday–Friday

Qualifications

• 0–2 years in supply chain, procurement, operations, or analytics.
• Experience with food, perishables, or distribution is a plus.
• Strong attention to item codes, weights, and dates.
• Clear written English; multilingual capability is a plus.
• Comfortable working on a warehouse floor and in refrigerated spaces.
• Willing to learn and implement AI-assisted procurement tools.

Responsibilities

• Daily Replenishment: run ordering, refresh data, and prepare vendor orders.
• Purchase Order Management: track POs, publish inbound reports, coordinate with vendors.
• Inventory and Production Data: maintain daily inventory and production inputs.
• Analysis and Reporting: monitor days-of-supply and summarize market pricing.
• Product Verification: inspect shipments and verify specs (size, grade, brand, codes).
• Vendor Quality Resolution: handle issues and pursue credits or replacements.
• Process Improvement and Documentation: enhance Excel tools with AI and write SOPs.

Skills

Advanced Excel

AI Tools

Attention to Detail

English Communication

Warehouse Environment

Food/Distribution Experience

Tools

Excel

ERP / Inventory Systems

Job description

Salary: $55,000–$65,000 based upon experience.

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Site Address: 4841 S. California Ave Chicago, IL

Who We Are

Charles Austin Holdings is a meat and poultry distributor serving wholesale, retail, and production customers out of Chicago.

What You’ll Do

As the Supply Chain Procurement Associate, you will keep our procurement machine running and make it better: executing the daily replenishment and purchase-order workflow in the Excel-based command center we have built, keeping inventory and production data accurate, and continuously improving the tools themselves using AI.
This is a procurement seat with a real ladder: ownership of vendors, production planning, and our whole-leg program is earned through defined milestones, not time served. You report directly to the Managing Partner.

• Daily Replenishment: Run the daily ordering process. Refresh inventory, sales, and ERP data each morning, review items below safety stock levels, and prepare vendor orders for management approval.
• Purchase Order Management: Enter and track purchase orders from placement through receipt. Maintain delivery schedules, publish weekly inbound reports for warehouse and production teams, and follow up with vendors and carriers on ETAs.
• Inventory and Production Data: Maintain accurate daily inventory records, production planning inputs, physical count reconciliations, and the item and vendor catalog. Precision with item codes, units of measure, and dates is essential.
• Analysis and Reporting: Monitor days-of-supply to prevent stockouts, review margins against targets, and summarize weekly market pricing (USDA and Urner Barry reports) to support purchasing decisions.
• Product Verification: Spend regular time on the warehouse and production floor. Physically inspect the products you order and confirm incoming shipments match specifications, including size, grade, brand, and item code.
• Vendor Quality Resolution: Own all follow-up when product arrives short, damaged, off-spec, or incorrect. Document issues the same day (photos, weights, item codes, PO reference), report them, and pursue credits or replacements through to resolution.
• Process Improvement and Documentation: Improve our Excel-based tools using AI (we use Claude). Write and maintain a standard operating procedure (SOP) for every process you own.

Qualifications

• Excel Proficiency: Advanced Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, structured tables, and building models from unorganized data. Experience with Power Query or basic scripting is a plus.
• AI Tools: Hands-on experience using AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot to build or automate work. Be prepared to share an example, even a small one. Curiosity matters more than credentials.
• Attention to Detail: Highly accurate with item codes (SKU’S), units of measure, weights, and dates.
• Communication: Clear written English. Spanish or Chinese is a plus; all three languages are spoken on our floor.
• Work Environment: Comfortable working in refrigerated coolers and on an active warehouse floor. This is not a desk-only role.
• Physical Requirements: Able to lift up to [50] lbs, stand and walk for extended periods, and work in temperatures as low as [34]°F.
• Experience: 0–2 years in supply chain, procurement, operations, or analytics. Experience in food, perishables, or distribution is a plus but not required. We will teach you the industry.

Sponsorship for Employment

Charles Austin does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status). To be considered for permanent employment, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.