Purchasing Agent II

Purchasing Agent II
Location: Zeeland, MI | Onsite
Compensation: $70,000–$88,500 base + quarterly bonus potential
Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare, dental, 401k w/match, childcare assistance, paid sabbatical after 10 years, and fully paid college tuition for two dependents.

Our client is a thriving and growing manufacturing organization that continues to invest in its people, technology, and future. This company is looking to hire a Purchasing Agent II to join their procurement team.

This is not your typical manufacturing environment. Employees enjoy a collaborative atmosphere, strong leadership, excellent work-life balance, and opportunities to grow their careers. Many team members describe the company as a hidden gem because of its stability, employee-focused culture, and long-term career potential.

The Purchasing Agent II is responsible for sourcing and procuring raw materials, MRO items, equipment, services, and supplies while ensuring optimal cost, quality, and delivery performance. This role partners closely with Operations, Planning, Production, Quality, Engineering, and Finance to support customer demands, maintain inventory levels, improve supplier performance, and drive cost savings initiatives.

The successful candidate will bring strong analytical skills, supplier management experience, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement.

Purchasing Agent II Responsibilities:

Strategic Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Source and procure raw materials, MRO supplies, equipment, and services to achieve the best overall value.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new suppliers.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Evaluate supplier performance related to cost, quality, service, and on-time delivery.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and Long-Term Agreements (LTAs).
• Conduct supplier and commodity spend analysis to identify sourcing opportunities and cost savings.

Inventory & Material Planning

• Forecast material requirements using purchasing history, production schedules, and internal demand signals.
• Manage MRP activities for assigned product lines and business units.
• Maintain item-level MRP data, including lead times, pricing, safety stock, and ordering parameters.
• Ensure material availability to support production while optimizing inventory levels.
• Manage supplier delivery performance and proactively address supply chain risks.

Cost Management & Process Improvement

• Identify, develop, and lead cost reduction, cost avoidance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Analyze market conditions and pricing trends to support informed purchasing decisions.
• Drive projects that improve purchasing effectiveness and overall supply chain performance.
• Participate in cross-functional efforts to improve products, processes, equipment, and manufacturing methods.

Operational Support

• Process Requests for Quotations (RFQs) and provide quote information to internal stakeholders.
• Review and resolve discrepancies between purchase orders and supplier invoices.
• Partner with Quality teams to address supplier quality concerns and implement corrective actions.
• Support production teams and internal customers by ensuring timely and accurate purchasing activities.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Purchasing Agent II Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent education and relevant experience will be considered.
• 5+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or sourcing experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and contract negotiations.
• Knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and inventory management principles.
• Experience analyzing spend data, cost structures, and market trends.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.