Purchasing Agent

Bunge•Channahon, IL

17d

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent serves as the single point of contact for internal customers on procurement-related questions and manages local purchasing requests for indirect (non-bill-of-material) products and services. The role works with sourcing and category management teams to apply defined procurement strategies and frameworks and ensure efficient implementation and acceptance at local sites. The position manages purchasing activity across multiple sites, including requisition review and execution, supplier screening and selection, purchase-order follow-up, local supplier coordination, and support for contract implementation and strategic sourcing. It also helps internal customers use procurement procedures and systems, identifies and reports savings, and supports a 24/7 plant operation by ensuring timely delivery of purchased materials and services. Bunge describes its purpose as connecting farmers to consumers to deliver food, feed, and fuel. The company says it has approximately 34,000 employees, operates in more than 50 countries, and is committed to strengthening global food security, advancing sustainability, and helping communities prosper.

Requirements

High school diploma required.
Minimum of two years of relevant purchasing experience required.
Strong analytical thinking, including the ability to understand complex subjects, break them into comparable components, and conduct structured evaluation and documentation.
Thorough understanding of defined procurement procure-to-pay (P2P) processes.
Awareness of local supplier markets for assigned commodities and insight into product and service portfolios.
Basic understanding of sourcing methodology, including total cost of ownership, risk management, and savings or benefit monitoring.
Familiarity with the letter and spirit of laws applicable to purchasing and supply management.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Good computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SAP.
Proven ability to work with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline preferred.
Proficiency in SAP is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Manage local purchase requisitions for indirect products and services according to defined strategies and frameworks.
Verify purchase-request quality and the correct buying channel, and work with end users to resolve missing specifications.
Execute local purchase requisitions and process them through purchase orders or purchasing cards.
Advise customers about possible request modifications, including more cost-effective alternatives.
Screen potential suppliers through basic Request for Information or Request for Proposal processes and select suppliers according to category strategy.
Follow up on purchase orders and ensure purchased materials and services are delivered on time to support 24/7 plant operations.
Apply purchase-request processing guidelines across categories to support flexible work allocation.
Collaborate with local planning functions on production schedules and MRP minimum and maximum levels.
Ensure local purchase-requisition approvals are defined and followed.
Manage the Procurement function at multiple sites and maintain expertise in site-relevant catalog content and category buying instructions.
Ensure internal customers follow procurement procedures; communicate required changes or preferred alternative buying channels when necessary.
Help users make efficient use of purchasing systems and coordinate between local stakeholders and the procurement organization.
Identify, track, and report locally generated savings.
Manage and coordinate with local and regional external suppliers.
Source and negotiate pricing for maintenance supplies and services not covered by strategic sourcing agreements.
Coordinate contract-implementation tasks and plans with purchasing managers and stakeholders, and participate in their execution.
Promote global and regional contracts and ensure purchases follow preferred-supplier programs and channel strategies.
Support strategic sourcing initiatives by providing local spend and category-practice information, supplier-market insights, local requirements, supplier-qualification support, and input to contract-implementation plans when requested.
Support local spot-buy reduction initiatives, monitor recurring spot buys, and identify opportunities for catalog and contract creation based on recurring free-text requests.
Ensure purchasing is involved in at least 85% of local non-commodity, non-logistic spend.
Perform additional job responsibilities as directed by the Purchasing Manager.