Purchasing Analyst

LHH

Elgin, IL

Purchasing Analyst

Job Summary

The Purchasing Analyst is responsible for managing end‑to‑end procurement activities for products, components, and supplies. This role focuses on purchasing, supplier negotiations, and cost optimization while supporting supply chain efficiency and operational continuity. The analyst partners cross‑functionally to align purchasing strategies with business needs and plays a key role in driving cost savings, supplier performance, and inventory optimization.

Key Responsibilities

Manage vendor relationships, including evaluating bids and price changes, negotiating contracts and terms (pricing, MOQs, payment terms, lead times, and volume discounts), issuing purchase orders, and resolving discrepancies.
Analyze spend data, purchasing history, market trends, and supplier pricing to identify cost‑saving opportunities, supply risks, and process improvements.
Conduct market research and supplier evaluations to assess capabilities, pricing competitiveness, quality, reliability, and compliance with company standards.
Support contract negotiations by preparing cost analyses, price comparisons, and data‑driven recommendations.
Monitor inventory levels, open purchase orders, and supplier delivery performance; track KPIs such as on‑time delivery, cost variance, and supplier quality.
Maintain and update supplier records, pricing agreements, purchasing data, and procurement reports.
Perform audits of purchasing activities, vendor relationships, and transactional data to identify inefficiencies or compliance gaps.
Collaborate with forecasting, logistics, inventory management, quality, warehouse, finance, and sales teams to ensure alignment on purchasing needs.
Track and report procurement KPIs, savings achieved, spend analysis, and compliance metrics; prepare reporting for leadership review.
Stay informed on industry trends, pricing fluctuations, regulatory changes, and procurement best practices.
Support continuous improvement initiatives related to purchasing processes, systems, and automation.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field (preferred).
2–5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or a related role (preferred).
Strong negotiation skills with the ability to influence pricing, terms, and supplier performance.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) and procurement tools (Coupa, Ariba).
Solid understanding of purchasing processes, sourcing strategies, contract fundamentals, and supply chain principles.
Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and critical‑thinking skills with high attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively across cross‑functional teams and build strong supplier relationships.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Professional certifications such as CPP, CPSM, CSCP, or APICS credentials are a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

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