Procurement Specialist

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and managing the raw materials, packaging, MRO supplies, and services required to keep a specialty metalworking lubricant and coatings manufacturing operation running safely, efficiently, and on schedule. This role owns the day-to-day purchasing cycle – from requisition through purchase order, delivery, and invoice reconciliation – while building the supplier relationships and market knowledge needed to control cost, protect supply continuity, and support production and quality requirements.

Reporting directly to the President, the Procurement Specialist works closely with Operations, the Laboratory/Technical team, Accounting, and Sales to ensure raw material and supply availability aligns with production schedules and customer commitments. This is a hands-on, on-site role suited to someone who is detail-oriented, responsive, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced specialty chemical manufacturing environment.

• Identify, evaluate, and qualify suppliers for raw materials, packaging, and MRO/indirect supplies based on cost, quality, reliability, and lead time.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and service levels with vendors to secure the most advantageous agreements for the company.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key chemical, packaging, and supply vendors to ensure consistent, on-time delivery.
• Monitor supplier performance and resolve delivery, quality, or pricing disputes in partnership with Operations and the Laboratory.
• Maintain a qualified backup/alternate supplier base for critical raw materials to reduce single-source supply risk.

• Prepare, issue, and track purchase orders and requisitions for raw materials, packaging, and operating supplies within the company’s ERP system.
• Follow through on open POs to confirm accurate, on-time receipts and promptly resolve shortages, discrepancies, or delivery delays.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date purchasing records, supplier files, pricing, and lead-time data within the ERP and procurement systems.
• Partner with Accounts Payable to reconcile purchase orders, invoices, and receipts, and resolve pricing or quantity discrepancies.
• Analyze market trends, commodity pricing, and supplier proposals to identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising quality.
• Track and report key procurement metrics (cost savings, on‑time delivery, lead times, spend by category) to support budget and margin goals.
• Support annual budgeting and cost‑forecasting efforts by providing accurate raw material and supply pricing data.

• Monitor inventory levels, usage trends, and reorder points to ensure uninterrupted raw material and packaging supply for production.
• Coordinate with Operations and Production Scheduling to align purchasing activity with manufacturing demand and minimize excess inventory or stockouts.
• Support cycle counts and periodic physical inventory processes, and help investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies.

• Ensure all procured raw materials and supplies meet required specifications, safety data sheet (SDS), and regulatory requirements for a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Maintain awareness of supply chain risk (single‑source dependencies, regulatory changes, freight disruptions) and expedite concerns proactively.
• Support adherence to company purchasing policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Partner with the Laboratory/Technical team to source new raw materials for formulation development and product qualification.
• Coordinate with Sales and Customer Service to understand demand…