Purchasing Agent

Responsibilities

• Review demand, inventory levels, forecasts, and system recommendations to determine purchasing requirements for assigned materials and suppliers.
• Create, issue, revise, and manage purchase orders while ensuring pricing, lead times, quantities, and supplier requirements are accurate and up to date.
• Monitor supplier confirmations, shipment schedules, and delivery performance to support production schedules and customer needs.
• Expedite critical orders, address material shortages, and coordinate solutions for supply disruptions with suppliers and internal teams.
• Serve as the primary purchasing resource at the site and manage purchasing activities independently while escalating issues as needed.

Requirements

• Essential Skills: 2–5 years of purchasing, procurement, materials, or supply chain experience, preferably in a manufacturing or regulated environment.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems to manage purchase orders, supplier records, and inventory-related transactions.
• Ability to understand and act on MRP signals and work effectively within a purchasing system.
• Experience soliciting quotes and comparing supplier offerings to support sourcing and cost-saving initiatives.
• Strong transactional accuracy and diligence in processing purchase orders and related documentation.
• Strong communication and follow-up skills for effective vendor interaction and internal coordination.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

Qualifications

• 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, or APICS/ASCM is a plus.
• Fragrance or related industry experience is a plus, but not required.
• Knowledge of existing or relevant vendors in the industry is helpful.
• Relevant certifications such as CPIM or APICS-type credentials may be considered in place of a degree.

Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70,000.00 - $80,000.00/yr. Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), PTO (Vacation/Sick) + Company Paid Holidays.

Work Environment

This is a tactical and transactional purchasing role focused on day-to-day execution rather than strategic category management. Primary responsibilities include processing purchase orders, expediting orders, updating delivery dates, maintaining open orders, and communicating with vendors about rushes and order status. The position is based at a small site with approximately 56 employees, offering a close-knit and collaborative environment. The Purchasing Agent will work closely with departments such as the quality control lab and receiving teams to support operational needs. The role reports into a procurement leader located at another site and requires a high level of independence and self-management. This is a first-shift position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.