Procurement Specialist

LHH Recruitment Solutions is seeking a highly motivated Procurement Specialist for our Wholesale Distribution client in the Knoxville, TN area. The ideal candidate will have experience managing vendor relationships, purchasing materials, forecasting inventory needs, and driving purchasing strategies.

• Type: Temp to Hire
• Location: Knoxville, TN.
• Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM | Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Compensation: $26-$31 per hour ($55,000-$65,000 annually)

Responsibilities

• Oversee the purchasing and inventory planning for a diverse portfolio of janitorial and facility products, including cleaning supplies, paper goods, chemicals, and truckload purchases.
• Analyze purchasing trends and forecast inventory requirements to support business operations
• Create, review, and compare vendor bids and proposals
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and terms with suppliers
• Build and maintain strong relationships with approximately 40 vendor partners
• Monitor inventory levels and usage trends to ensure adequate stock availability
• Issue and manage purchase orders, averaging 10-15 orders per day
• Coordinate truckload purchasing and large-volume orders
• Evaluate supplier performance and identify cost-saving opportunities
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support operational needs and purchasing strategies
• Maintain accurate procurement records and reporting within the company's ERP system

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Procurement, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive purchasing and procurement experience
• Experience with forecasting, inventory management, and vendor negotiations
• Strong understanding of procurement best practices and purchasing processes
• Experience creating and reviewing bids, RFPs, or supplier proposals
• ERP software experience required; Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is a plus