Buyer​/Procurement Specialist

If you're looking for a procurement role that goes beyond placing purchase orders, this is it. DEMA Engineering Co. is seeking a Procurement Specialist who is ready to own a portfolio of spend categories, build meaningful supplier partnerships, and drive real results for a global manufacturing operation, all from our headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.

Since 1956, DEMA Engineering Company has been a family-owned global leader in chemical dispensing and fluid control technologies. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, we employ more than 420 people worldwide, with manufacturing facilities across the United States and operations in Europe and Australia.

As an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified organization, DEMA is built on a culture of accountability, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. Our people build long careers here, because they have the stability of a well-established company and the autonomy to make a meaningful impact every day.

The Procurement Specialist manages end-to-end procurement for assigned spend categories, from sourcing strategy and RFQ/RFP execution to supplier performance management and ERP-driven purchasing. You'll partner closely with Engineering, Production Planning, Operations, Quality, and Finance to ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness, and operational excellence.

This is a strategic and operational role. You'll own your categories, influence outcomes, and contribute to a procurement team that is central to DEMA's continued growth.

• Manage procurement activities for assigned categories, including production materials, components, MRO supplies, tooling, equipment, facilities purchases, and contract services.
• Lead RFQ and RFP processes, including supplier identification, bid evaluation, cost analysis, and sourcing recommendations.
• Review ERP/MRP purchasing requirements and execute purchasing plans to support production and inventory objectives.
• Manage purchase orders, supplier acknowledgments, delivery schedules, and order modifications.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks while proactively resolving material shortages and delivery issues.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost performance.
• Support supplier qualification, onboarding, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain accurate procurement data, pricing, lead times, and supplier records within the ERP system.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Production Planning, Quality, and Finance to support business objectives and new product introductions.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and inventory optimization.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent education and relevant work experience
• 3–5 years of procurement, purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with ERP and MRP systems
• Proven ability to manage RFQ/RFP processes and supplier relationships
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, bills of material, and technical requirements
• Cross-functional collaboration experience with Engineering, Operations, Production Planning, and/or Quality
• Strong problem-solving, negotiation, communication, and organizational skills

• Epicor ERP experience
• CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, CPP, or similar…