Purchasing Agent​/Buyer

Purchasing Agent/Buyer

LHH is seeking an experienced Purchasing Analyst/Buyer with strong purchasing expertise and a data-driven approach to inventory and supply management. This role will analyze demand, inventory levels, purchasing trends, and supplier performance to make informed buying decisions and maintain appropriate inventory levels.

The ideal candidate will manage the purchasing process from demand analysis and replenishment planning through purchase orders, supplier coordination, and product receipt. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication with internal teams and suppliers are essential. The anticipated salary for this position is between $65,000 and $85,000 a year plus bonus.

• Create, place, and manage purchase orders for food, disposables, equipment, and other supply chain products supporting customer programs.
• Analyze customer demand, usage patterns, forecasts, and inventory levels to determine purchasing and replenishment requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels and proactively identify potential shortages, excess inventory, and changing demand patterns.
• Partner with Operations, Customer Service, Logistics, Finance, and Account Management to ensure purchasing decisions align with customer needs and operational requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships while monitoring pricing, lead times, service levels, and overall supplier performance.
• Follow up on purchase orders and deliveries, addressing shortages, discrepancies, delays, and other issues as they arise.
• Coordinate urgent and time-sensitive purchasing needs while balancing cost, availability, and customer requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchase pricing, supplier terms, agreements, and related information within ERP systems.
• Research and resolve invoice discrepancies involving pricing, quantities, freight charges, or payment terms.
• Support strategic sourcing activities, including supplier evaluations, cost-reduction opportunities, contract compliance, and supplier selection.
• Develop and analyze reports related to inventory turns, supplier performance, purchasing spend, and key purchasing metrics.
• Maintain accurate purchasing documentation, item master data, supplier records, and other procurement information.
• Identify unusual or inconsistent ordering patterns and collaborate with customer-facing teams to investigate and resolve issues.
• Analyze vendor FOB pricing against delivered landed costs and partner with the Logistics team to identify the most cost-effective purchasing and delivery options.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, internal controls, and audit requirements.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives designed to strengthen purchasing processes, controls, efficiency, and overall supply chain performance.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
• 2–5 years of experience in purchasing, buying, procurement, or a related role with direct responsibility for inventory analysis, purchasing decisions, supplier management, and purchase order execution.
• Experience purchasing food, beverage, consumable products, or similar categories is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze inventory, customer demand, purchasing trends, and supplier performance to support data-driven decisions.
• Experience working with ERP systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including proficiency with Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and other data analysis functions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on identifying trends, opportunities, and potential issues.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and manage external supplier relationships.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment while managing competing priorities.
• Ability to multitask, independently prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated and capable…