Purchasing Agent - Portage, IN

Purchasing Agent – Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

SMS Mill Services, LLC is a leader in the steel mill services industry prioritizing recycling and environmental/worker' safety and handling all operations with integrity. SMS Corporate is seeking a  highly skilled, detail-oriented and analytical Purchasing Agent - Strategic Sourcing & Procurement. This role is an important member of the procurement team responsible for strategic sourcing, supplier identification and development, competitive bidding, cost analysis, contract negotiation, spend analysis, and day-to-day purchasing activities.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience sourcing products and services within a heavy industrial, manufacturing, steel, construction, or similar operating environment. This individual must be comfortable analyzing large amounts of purchasing and supplier data and using advanced Microsoft Excel functions to identify cost-saving opportunities, evaluate supplier performance, compare bids, and support procurement decisions.
This position requires someone who can move beyond simply processing purchase orders and actively find better suppliers, negotiate improved pricing and terms, consolidate spend, reduce total cost, and improve the company's overall supply base.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities for assigned categories, including lubricants, fuel, industrial gases, PPE, equipment parts, maintenance supplies, operational services, and other industrial products.
• Research, identify, qualify, and develop new suppliers and alternative sources of supply.
• Conduct supplier market research to identify competitive pricing, emerging suppliers, product alternatives, and sourcing opportunities.
• Develop and issue RFQs, RFPs, and competitive bid packages and manage the bidding process from solicitation through supplier selection.
• Negotiate pricing, volume discounts, rebates, payment terms, freight terms, service levels, and other commercial conditions.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships while holding vendors accountable for pricing, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and contractual obligations.

Purchasing & Procurement

• Support day-to-day purchasing requirements for operations and ensure materials and services are available when needed.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, supplier, pricing, and contract records.

Cost Savings & Spend Analysis

• Analyze historical purchasing data to identify cost-reduction and sourcing opportunities.
• Track and document negotiated savings, cost avoidance, rebates, supplier consolidation savings, and other procurement improvements.
• Perform Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis rather than evaluating suppliers solely on purchase price.
• Analyze purchasing patterns by supplier, category, location, commodity, and time period.

Contracts & Negotiations

• Track supplier contracts, expiration dates, pricing agreements, and renewal periods.
• Proactively initiate sourcing and negotiation activities prior to contract expiration.
• Ensure suppliers adhere to negotiated pricing, terms, service levels, and other contractual requirements.
• Partner with leadership and other departments when evaluating significant supplier agreements.

Advanced Excel & Data Analysis Requirements
This position requires strong to advanced Microsoft Excel skills. Candidates should be able to independently analyze purchasing and supplier data without relying on prebuilt reports.

• PivotTables and PivotCharts
• XLOOKUP and/or VLOOKUP
• SUMIF/SUMIFS and COUNTIF/COUNTIFS
• Sorting, filtering, and advanced data manipulation
• Removing duplicates and cleaning large datasets
• Comparing data across multiple worksheets/files
• Creating supplier and pricing comparison models
• Building spend-analysis reports
• Identifying purchasing trends and exceptions
• Creating charts, dashboards, and management-ready summaries

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, procurement, strategic sourcing, contract management, or supplier/vendor management.
• Strong preference for experience within heavy industrial, manufacturing, steel, metals, construction, equipment, or similar environments.
• Demonstrated experience conducting competitive sourcing and supplier negotiations.
• Proven ability to identify and execute measurable cost-saving opportunities.
• Strong understanding of RFQ/RFP processes, supplier evaluation, contract negotiations, and Total Cost of Ownership.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills.
• Experience working with ERP, purchasing, inventory, or procurement systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple sourcing projects and operational priorities simultaneously.
• Comfortable working directly with suppliers as well as employees and leadership at all levels of the organization.
• Highly organized with a structured, detail-oriented approach to completing work.
• Experience supporting procurement across multiple facilities or operating locations is also highly desirable.

What we can Offer:

• A comprehensive compensation package to commensurate with experience including bonuses
• Benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, company-paid life insurance, etc. eligible on day 1!
• 401(k) with 4% matching, 100% vested as of first contribution
• Paid holidays, 4 weeks paid vacation
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team.
• Opportunity to help drive operational improvements and team success
• Opportunity to grow within operational organization