Position

Purchasing Agent (Japanese Food Products)

Summary

The Purchasing Agent is responsible for managing the procurement of frozen and dry Japanese food products while ensuring product quality, inventory accuracy, regulatory compliance, and cost efficiency. This role works closely with vendors, transportation providers, warehouse staff, and purchasing teams at other company locations to support daily operations and maintain an efficient supply chain.

Essential Duties

Purchasing & Vendor Management

Coordinate local purchasing of frozen and dry food products
Develop and maintain relationships with vendors and suppliers
Negotiate pricing, product quality, and delivery terms
Support product development and sourcing of new products
Coordinate with purchasing teams at other company locations regarding product transportation and deliveries

Inventory & Order Management

Monitor inventory levels and create purchase orders based on sales forecasts and inventory requirements
Review inventory regularly and investigate discrepancies with warehouse personnel
Coordinate semiannual physical inventory counts
Maintain accurate purchasing, inventory adjustment, price change, and container records in Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Process receipts and invoices for payment
Calculate product costs and pricing to maintain target profit margins

Logistics & Warehouse Coordination

Coordinate transportation with trucking companies to ensure timely delivery
Work closely with warehouse personnel to ensure proper receiving, product quality, and inventory accuracy
Distribute supplier packing lists to warehouse and sales teams and coordinate receiving procedures
Process branch purchase orders and prepare invoices
Coordinate daily purchasing orders with designated suppliers and manage receiving upon product arrival

Food Safety & Compliance

Ensure products comply with FDA and USDA regulations
Maintain HACCP and CAPA food safety programs
Support quality assurance activities and food safety documentation
Monitor compliance with company food safety standards and procedures

Administrative & General Support

Attend company meetings and events as required
Complete assigned duties within scheduled working hours unless otherwise approved
Perform additional purchasing and administrative duties as assigned by management
Respond promptly to management requests and support departmental operations

Working Hours / Working Style

Monday – Friday

9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Full-time, On-site

Non-Exempt Position

Working Location

Elk Grove Village, IL

Salary / Benefit

$50,000－$55,000 DOE

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k)

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Company Holidays

Holidays

U.S. National Holidays

Qualifications

Business-level English (reading, writing, speaking, and listening)
Business-level Japanese preferred
Minimum 2–3 years of purchasing, procurement, inventory control, or food distribution experience preferred
Experience in food importing, food distribution, or wholesale industry is highly preferred
Knowledge of Japanese food products is strongly preferred
Understanding of FDA, USDA, HACCP, and CAPA food safety requirements
Experience with Microsoft Dynamics NAV or other ERP systems preferred
Strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills
Ability to analyze inventory, pricing, and purchasing data
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, Word)
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with warehouse, sales, vendors, and other company locations
High School Diploma required; Bachelor's degree preferred