Purchasing Agent - Indirect Materials & Services

Bell•Northbrook, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Bell Flavors & Fragrances is seeking a detail-oriented and resourceful Purchasing Agent – Indirect Materials & Services, to support procurement activities for non-production goods and services across our operations. This role is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and purchasing indirect materials and services such as MRO supplies, facility services, office equipment, tooling, safety supplies, and other operational needs. The ideal candidate will bring strong analytical skills, supplier relationship management experience, and the ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position plays an important role in ensuring cost-effective purchasing, reliable supplier performance, accurate data management, and compliance with company policies and quality standards.

Requirements

2–5 years of purchasing, procurement, materials, or supply chain experience, preferably in a manufacturing, food, chemical, or regulated environment.
Experience using ERP/MRP systems to manage purchase orders, supplier records, item master data, and inventory-related transactions.
Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including strong Excel skills for reporting, analysis, and data validation.
Working knowledge of supplier management, inventory control, purchasing processes, and basic commercial terms.
Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, APICS/ASCM, or equivalent is a plus.
The successful candidate will be organized, proactive, and highly detail-oriented, with strong communication skills and a commitment to continuous improvement.
This role requires someone who can build productive supplier and internal stakeholder relationships, analyze purchasing data, identify practical solutions, and support business continuity through responsive and compliant procurement practices.

Responsibilities

Source, evaluate, and select suppliers for indirect materials and services.
Issue RFQs/RFPs, analyze bids, and negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts.
Manage supplier relationships to ensure quality, reliability, and service performance.
Monitor supplier performance, resolve issues, and support continuous improvement efforts.
Analyze spend data to identify cost savings, consolidation, and process improvement opportunities.
Maintain accurate purchasing records in ERP/MRP systems, including supplier data, purchase orders, lead times, pricing, and inventory-related information.
Collaborate with maintenance, engineering, production, facilities, and other internal teams to support purchasing needs.
Process purchase orders, manage order confirmations, and resolve delivery or invoice discrepancies.
Support urgent purchasing needs while maintaining cost discipline and compliance with company policies.
Prepare reports related to procurement activity, savings, supplier performance, and spend management.
Ensure purchasing activities align with company policies, audit requirements, and applicable quality, regulatory, and ethical sourcing standards.