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Purchasing Agent Jobs in Lexington, KY (NOW HIRING)

Essity

Purchasing Manager

Harrodsburg, KY · On-site

Purchasing Manager Who We Are Essity is a global leader in health and hygiene headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with a North American headquarters located in Philadelphia, PA. We are a multi ...

Kemper

Licensed Insurance Agent

Lexington, KY

Employee Stock Purchase Program * Great work-life balance. Benefit from autonomy in managing your ... The Licensed Agent Bonus Program is not available to rehires or agents with temporary licenses.

Kemper

Insurance Agent Trainee

Lexington, KY

Life Insurance Sales Agent Employment Type: Full-Time with Benefits Work Arrangement: Field Role ... Employee Stock Purchase Program Responsibilities: Agents are set up for success by being assigned a ...

Costco Wholesale Corporation

Service Deli Clerk

Lexington, KY · On-site

$11.75 - $14.50/hr

Shops the warehouse and purchases needed supplies and ingredients for the day's production ... Wipes stationary parts with a cleaning agent, water and sanitizing agent. Cleans deli prep room ...

Liveops

Remote Customer Service Agent

Lexington, KY · Remote

$15.50 - $20.50/hr

Customer Service Agent -- Independent Contractor (Remote) Location: Remote (US-Based) Liveops is seeking independent contractors to provide virtual customer service support for a variety of client ...

Liveops

Remote Customer Service Agent

Richmond, KY · Remote

$14.25 - $19.25/hr

Customer Service Agent -- Independent Contractor (Remote) Location: Remote (US-Based) Liveops is seeking independent contractors to provide virtual customer service support for a variety of client ...

PLACE

Showing Assistant

Lexington, KY · On-site

$50K - $80K/yr

Summary Licensed Real Estate Showing Assistant | Real Estate Agent Opportunity | Central Kentucky ... Help buyers navigate the process of finding and purchasing a home * Learn proven systems, scripts ...

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All JobsPurchasing Agent JobsPurchasing Agent Jobs in Lexington, KY

Purchasing Agent information

See Lexington, KY salary details

$30.3K

$53.7K

$83K

How much do purchasing agent jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for purchasing agent in Lexington, KY is $53,704.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,700.00 and $59,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a purchasing agent?

Purchasing agents buy goods and services for a company to use or resell. As a purchasing agent, you research products, pricing, and suppliers for items your company needs or wants to sell. Your job duties as a purchasing agent include attending trade shows and sales pitches, evaluating suppliers, negotiating contracts, arranging deliveries, and maintaining records of product pricing, performance, and inventory.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a purchasing agent?

To thrive as a Purchasing Agent, you need strong negotiation, analytical, and organizational skills, typically supported by a degree in business or supply chain management. Proficiency with procurement software, ERP systems like SAP, and familiarity with inventory management tools is often required. Attention to detail, effective communication, and problem-solving abilities are standout soft skills in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring cost-effective purchasing decisions, maintaining supplier relationships, and supporting smooth business operations.

What are some common challenges purchasing agents face when negotiating with suppliers?

Purchasing Agents often encounter challenges such as fluctuating market prices, limited supplier options, and tight deadlines when negotiating contracts. Balancing cost savings with quality requirements and maintaining positive supplier relationships can be difficult, especially in fast-paced industries. To overcome these challenges, successful Purchasing Agents stay informed about market trends, develop strong communication skills, and frequently collaborate with internal teams like inventory management and finance to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

What is the difference between Purchasing Agent vs Buyer?

AspectPurchasing AgentBuyer
CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may require certifications like CPSMHigh school diploma; certifications like C.P.M. can be beneficial
Work EnvironmentOffice setting, often within procurement or supply chain departmentsOffice environment, working closely with suppliers and internal teams
Industry UsageCommonly used in manufacturing, retail, and logistics sectorsWidely used across retail, manufacturing, and wholesale industries
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding procurement roles, responsibilities, and qualificationsComparing purchasing and buying roles, career paths, and job duties

The main difference between a Purchasing Agent and a Buyer lies in their scope and responsibilities. Purchasing Agents often handle broader procurement strategies and supplier negotiations, while Buyers focus on selecting and purchasing specific goods or services. Both roles require similar credentials and work environments, and they are frequently used interchangeably depending on the industry.

Is a purchasing agent a hard job?

A purchasing agent's job involves negotiating with suppliers, managing inventory, and ensuring timely procurement of goods, which can be demanding due to deadlines and the need for attention to detail. The role requires strong communication skills, organization, and knowledge of supply chain processes, but the difficulty varies depending on the industry and complexity of the purchasing tasks.

Is purchasing a stressful job?

Purchasing agents often face stress due to tight deadlines, budget constraints, and the need to negotiate favorable terms. The role requires strong organizational skills and attention to detail to manage supplier relationships and ensure timely procurement, which can contribute to work-related pressure.
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The top searched job categories for Purchasing Agent jobs in Lexington, KY are:

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Cities near Lexington, KY with the most Purchasing Agent job openings:

Purchasing Agent jobs near you
Infographic showing various Purchasing Agent job openings in Lexington, KY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,704 per year, or $25.8 per hour.

Purchasing Manager

Harrodsburg, KY • On-site

Essity
Health and Personal Care Stores • 10K+ employees

7.1

Company rating: 7.1 out of 10

Based on 22 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Good employer

Paid breaks

Respectful managers

Learn more about Essityexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Purchasing Manager
Who We Are
Essity is a global leader in health and hygiene headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with a North American headquarters located in Philadelphia, PA. We are a multi-billion-dollar company with a purpose to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, care givers, and customers across the globe. We do this through innovations in our Professional Hygiene, Consumer
Goods, and Health & Medical business units that provide hygiene and health solutions to over a billion people every day worldwide.
Working at Essity is more than a career, it is where you will play your part in a better future, to improve well-being for people and have opportunities to drive positive change for society and the environment. As an employee at Essity, you will belong to a team where you feel valued, are safe, supported to grow and challenged to generate business results in a friendly and open atmosphere.
About the Role
The Essity Global Procurement Group is currently seeking a Procurement (Purchasing) Manager for our Central Region consisting of two manufacturing plants in Middletown (OH) and Harrodsburg (KY). This position will be based in our Harrodsburg facility.
Incumbent is responsible for the coordination, organization, leadership, and negotiation of regional/site procurement agreements with strategically chosen vendors that provide maximum value and benefit for the region/site in a manner that supports the philosophies and business practices of the Essity Procurement strategy.
We're looking for people who embody our values, aren't afraid to challenge the status quo, innovate, experiment, and move at a fast pace. We're always looking for ways to improve our products and ourselves. If this is you, we'd love to talk.
What You Will Do
  • High degree of understanding of region's required commodities and appropriate vendors and their offerings, maintaining organized records of commodities, agreements, vendors and their performance, and their primary stakeholders at each Essity site;
  • Education and execution of Purchasing processes and systems for the assigned Region and Site(s) and its procurement personnel. This would include Operational effectiveness, general understanding/application of business procurement law including using approved forms/templates, and appropriate Internal Controls for processes including: requisitioning, vendor negotiations, bidding, PO/commitments, receiving PO exceptions, and Accounts Payable PO exceptions;
  • Lead, train, and optimize procurement personnel at the assigned region's sites;
  • Effective high impact Collaborator, working between Regional/Site Operations, Corporate Procurement, and Regional Finance to implement and oversee appropriate Procurement Processes at the Region/Site. The incumbent would create and lead Cross Functional Teams as a regular part of this position function;
  • Strong positive impact on assigned Regional/site cost-side budgets as it pertains to procured materials, services, and equipment. Provide budget and forecast information to Finance and Operations in a timely an accurate manner;
  • Development, Leadership, and Documentation of local Sourcing Strategies, and participation, support, and implementation of Corporate Sourcing Strategies at the Region/site(s), utilizing the corporate standards so that;
  • Correct Regional stakeholders have up-front involvement;
  • Procurement Strategy teams are created, with appropriate participation and leadership by incumbent;
  • Goals and Benefits of the Strategies are clearly defined and support the regional and its sites;
  • Requests for regional Quotes are clearly and professionally communicated to potential vendors using our Sourcing systems & Tools (SAP ERP & SAP ARIBA)
  • The Operational portion of Vendor Proposals that support Essity requirements and benefits are reviewed with the local or regional Procurement team;
  • Incumbent leads the Regional Procurement Team to Procurement decisions that support the Corporate Procurement Strategy and affected sites;
  • Incumbent manages the Regional and site(s) relationships with the vendors in a manner whereby their performance supports the benefits and requirements of the sites and the contracted agreements;
  • This would include active participation in working with Corporate Procurement, who will lead the development of multi-site agreements;
  • Incumbent leads regular vendor performance reviews with local vendors, and participates in the reviews of vendors covered under Corporate agreements;
  • Understanding and leadership of the proper use of the electronic Procurement business system (SAP) for the region/site(s). The incumbent is considered the region/site owner and expert on the procurement portion of the system;
  • Leads in implementing the Environmental, Health and Safety, Quality/Food Safety System (QRESH) policies and procedures to meet or exceed our customers product quality, service and sustainability expectations, including certification requirements such as ISO:14001, SFQ, and others as applicable;
  • Demonstrates leadership in the prevention of pollution, compliance with applicable legal and other requirements, and continual improvement of environmental performance especially in the areas of recognized Environmental Significant Aspects and Essity's established corporate sustainability goals;
  • Practice commitment to the philosophy that Environmental, Health and Safety, Quality/Food Safety (QRESH) stewardship is everyone's responsibility;
  • Perform other essential responsibilities deemed as necessary.

Who You Are
  • A bachelor' degree in Business Administration and a minimum of five to seven years of directly related work experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience and a proven record of effectiveness in a same or similar role;
  • A minimum of five years of experience in Purchasing, Contract Administration, Planning with vendor interface or Marketing. The individual must have demonstrated and effective leadership experience;
  • Strong Organizational, Communication, Negotiation, Collaboration, Project Management, general understanding of Financial Systems, Customer Focus, Improvement Orientation, strong Interpersonal and Diplomatic Skills, Effective Leadership, Planning, and Results Orientation;
  • Understanding of Procurement market, pricing, usage and contracting for assigned commodity group(s);
  • Strong knowledge and ability to work with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access.
  • Strong knowledge of SAP ERP, SAP ARIBA, SAP BW & Power BI
  • Strong Financial Acumen is essential in this role.

What We Can Offer You
At Essity, we believe every career is as unique as the individual and empower employees to reach their full potential in a winning culture motivated by a powerful purpose.
Compensation and Benefits:
Expected Compensation:
Competitive annual salary + annual incentive bonus + benefits
Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors such as knowledge, skills, and experience.
Along with competitive pay you will be eligible for the following benefits:
  • United Healthcare PPO / EyeMed Vision Insurance / Delta Dental Insurance
  • Wellness program provided through Rally
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • 401(k) with employer match and annual employer base contribution
  • Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • PTO offering with Paid Holidays
  • Scholarship program for children of Essity employees.

Additional Information
The Company is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified candidates and employees pursuant to applicable law. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you require reasonable accommodation as part of the application process please contact EssityHRNorthAmerica@essity.com
Together, we are improving lives, every day
Working at Essity is not just a career; it is a chance to directly make the world a healthier, more hygienic and safer place. With impactful innovations coupled with sustainable solutions, we strive to reach more people every year with the necessary and essential solutions for well-being.
Application End Date:
Job Requisition ID:
Essity260993

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