Job Description
Job DescriptionLead Buyer: Machesney Park, IL Are you an experienced purchasing professional who enjoys negotiating with suppliers, improving purchasing processes, and helping a team succeed? We’re looking for a Lead Buyer to join an established manufacturing organization and take an active role in both the day-to-day and strategic side of purchasing. This is a great opportunity for someone who likes being hands-on with purchase orders and supplier relationships but is also ready to mentor other buyers, influence purchasing strategy, and drive continuous improvement within the department.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and support day-to-day purchasing activities, including creating, processing, and managing purchase orders
- Mentor Buyers on purchasing processes, workflow priorities, supplier communication, and best practices
- Manage supplier relationships with an emphasis on performance, delivery, quality, and cost
- Conduct strategic sourcing activities, including competitive bidding, RFPs, supplier evaluation, and selection
- Negotiate supplier pricing, terms, and contracts to maximize value, reduce risk, and identify cost-saving opportunities
- Follow up on pricing, delivery confirmations, and past-due purchase orders
- Assist with new vendor setup and ongoing vendor maintenance
- Maintain accurate purchasing and item-master information within the ERP system
- Monitor purchasing cycles and help resolve shipping, receiving, and invoice discrepancies
- Support cycle counting and inventory accuracy while understanding the flow of inventory through the ERP system
- Provide purchasing-related support during audits
- Partner with other Buyers throughout the complete purchasing lifecycle, from requirements and bidding through PO creation, receipt, and closeout
- Help guide Buyer workloads and identify opportunities to continuously improve purchasing processes and department efficiency
Skills & Experience:
- Education: HSD, required; Associate degree in a relevant field, preferred
- Experience: 3-5 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, or buying within a manufacturing environment, required
- Knowledge: Proven success working with suppliers & negotiating pricing and terms, required
- Software: ERP experience and Microsoft Office Suite, required
What We Offer:
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) w/ company match
- Company paid holidays
- PTO
- Paid Holidays
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- And more!
Please Note: This role does not offer visa sponsorship or relocation assistance. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.
Pay: $70,000 - $90,000/year
Type: Full-time, 1st Shift On-site
Schedule: Monday – Friday, normal business hours
If you’re a purchasing professional who can negotiate a better deal, keep suppliers accountable, improve a process, and help other Buyers become stronger at what they do, we want to hear from you. Apply now!
Hughes Recruiting & Consulting is a full-service human resources agency headquartered in Freeport, IL, and has 11 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. We are a growing company that embodies professionalism, pursues excellence, embraces challenges, and has fun! We find valuable placements for employees looking for work and employers looking for staff. Put us to work, finding you work. Visit us online to complete an application today.