PURCHASING SPECIALIST

Compass Group•Romeoville, IL

1d•$58,000 - $62,000•Onsite

About The Position

Canteen brings break time to everyone. We combine food, service, and experience backed by industry-leading technology to help companies create a better workplace and connect their employees. Canteen’s solutions include markets, office coffee and snacks, unattended retail, and culinary. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their dedication, collaboration, and passion fuel our growth. Interested in joining our team? You bring the enthusiasm, customer service, and commitment; we’ll supply the opportunity and innovation. Together, we’ll continue to transform our industry. Come grow with us. We are Canteen. We are seeking a detail‑oriented and proactive Procurement Specialist to help keep our supply chain running smoothly. In this role, you will manage purchase orders, coordinate with vendors, and partner closely with our warehouse and operations teams to ensure materials flow accurately and efficiently. This position requires strong analytical skills, exceptional Excel proficiency, and the ability to communicate clearly across multiple departments. You will be responsible for creating and tracking purchase orders, maintaining accurate inventory coordination, and resolving invoice or billing discrepancies. Success in this role depends on your ability to think quickly when backorders or delays occur, identify pricing or quantity errors, and build trusted relationships with vendors and internal partners. If you thrive in a fast‑moving environment, adapt easily to shifting priorities, and bring a friendly, team‑focused attitude, this is an excellent opportunity to make an impact.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of one to three years of purchasing experience preferred, depending upon formal degree or training
Good knowledge of food and inventory trends with a focus on operations
P&L accountability and contract-managed service experience is desirable
Possess accurate data-entry skills, computer skills, and be detailed oriented with great organizational skills
Knowledge of food industry and/or purchasing strongly preferred.
Must be experienced with computers; to include Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Power Point), Outlook, E-mail.
Serv Safe certified highly desirable
Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain an order schedule to assure products are in stock and avoid out of stock situations.
Receives and places product orders from different departments.
Tracks and places daily orders to various vendors. All orders are reviewed prior to placing.
Reviews inventory levels and usage projections prior to preparing orders.
Completes daily communication with vendors in a high-level professional manner while practicing email etiquette.
Maintains excellent vendor and client relations.
Works with different departments to facilitate smooth day-to-day operation with respect to product needs, out of stock issues and product ETA’s.
Accomplishes purchasing and organization mission by completing related projects as needed.
Participate in technology upgrades and provide user knowledge as needed.
Utilize new technology/reporting to reduce backorders.
Reconciles cost differences between VOG and actual pricing. Interface with vendors in support of this objective
Assist with bi-weekly warehouse inventory audit process