Procurement Specialist – Midwest Operations

Techo-Bloc•Waterloo, IN

9h•$65,000 - $75,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Procurement Specialist owns day-to-day purchasing execution for assigned Midwest sites, suppliers, and material categories. The role translates planning and operational requirements into accurate purchase orders, maintains reliable supplier commitments, protects material availability, and communicates supply risks early. The specialist is expected to work independently, keep Microsoft Dynamics 365 data current, and coordinate with Planning, Operations, Maintenance, Logistics, Receiving, Finance, and Accounts Payable. The role supports reliable supply, accurate purchasing data, controlled inventory, stronger supplier performance, and fewer operational surprises. Responsibilities include managing purchase orders and supplier commitments, monitoring inventory, working with suppliers, maintaining purchasing data and controls, and coordinating across multiple sites. The position is based in Rock Island, Illinois, or Waterloo, Indiana, and may require visits to assigned Midwest sites and suppliers as business needs require.

Requirements

At least 3 years of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, planning, or related operational experience.
Experience creating and managing purchase orders in an ERP system.
Working knowledge of MRP, inventory replenishment, supplier follow-up, and basic purchasing controls.
Comfort using Excel for analysis and operational follow-up.
Clear written and verbal communication, strong organization, effective prioritization, and consistent follow-through.
Ability to work with site teams and suppliers, challenge information respectfully, and escalate based on business risk.
Ability to visit assigned Midwest sites and suppliers as business needs require.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing or distribution experience.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience; SAP, Oracle, or equivalent ERP experience is transferable.
Power BI exposure.

Responsibilities

Review MRP, purchase requisitions, operational requests, inventory positions, and open demand for assigned sites and categories.
Create and maintain accurate purchase orders, including item, quantity, unit of measure, price, terms, delivery location, requested date, and required documentation.
Obtain supplier confirmations and keep promised delivery dates current in D365.
Manage partial deliveries, backorders, cancellations, expedites, substitutions, and purchase order corrections through closure.
Follow up on past-due and unconfirmed purchase orders and promptly escalate business-critical risks.
Monitor shortages, below-minimum items, excess or slow-moving inventory, seasonal requirements, and long lead-time exposure.
Validate unusual demand and planning signals before ordering; partner with Planning and site teams when requirements or parameters appear inaccurate.
Support inventory optimization by reviewing order quantities, lead times, safety stock, coverage settings, and supplier constraints.
Manage material stocking for assigned sites and coordinate transfers or alternative supply solutions when they reduce cost, lead time, or stockout risk.
Build working relationships with assigned suppliers and maintain clear, documented commitments.
Request and compare quotations using total cost, lead time, quality, payment terms, freight, and service considerations.
Support negotiations, cost-saving initiatives, supplier reviews, and corrective actions.
Source, evaluate, and onboard new vendors.
Resolve delivery, pricing, quality, invoice, and documentation issues with appropriate internal partners.
Maintain accurate purchasing and supplier data in D365, including prices, lead times, trade agreements, purchasing agreements, and item-vendor relationships within role authority.
Follow purchasing approvals, segregation-of-duty controls, documentation standards, and established SOPs.
Ensure purchasing processes are followed consistently across assigned sites and reinforce them with site teams and suppliers.
Identify recurring data or process issues and propose practical improvements, automation, or reporting enhancements.
Provide clear ETAs and risk updates to stakeholders, communicating changes as soon as they are known.
Coordinate with Receiving and Accounts Payable to resolve receipt and invoice mismatches.
Participate in site, shortage, supplier, and procurement review meetings as required.
Provide backup coverage for other buyers, share knowledge, and support cross-training across Midwest locations.
Collaborate across multiple sites to align purchasing practices, share best practices, and drive consistent, reliable supply outcomes.