Business Development Associate - Distribution

Unlock your potential with Prinova We are Prinova, a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions, and trusted by the world’s best-known food, beverage, and nutrition brands. Part of the NAGASE Group, our expertise lies in Ingredient Distribution, Manufacturing Solutions, and Customized Services. Our global network of colleagues, located in offices and manufacturing facilities around the world, delivers sustainable value‑added solutions to our customers. We are recognized for our deep expertise, commitment to excellence, and bold innovation, which have earned us a strong reputation as a trusted industry leader. Wherever your career is headed, you’ll find direction, opportunity, and belonging with us. Business Development Associate - Distribution Department: Purchasing, Distribution Location: Itasca, IL Type: Full‑time Summary The Business Development Associate will support the Product Managers for our Ingredient distribution business, assist in managing inventory and the supply chain, and work with our Sales Department. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Identify, review, source, and recommend new suppliers of the product while managing existing inventory. Provide additional support backing up the Purchasing Department. Negotiate pricing and lead times with vendors Issue purchase orders with approved suppliers for your categories or other PM’s Communicate with QA/Regulatory to ensure incoming products meet all specifications Quarantine/reject a product for quality/other concerns, and work with QA/QC team to rectify Minimize costs of your products by negotiating direct and indirect spend Build long‑term relationships with suppliers Manage inventory or relevant items based on sales projections, including contracts, on file POs, sales history, and forecast on product sales Coordinate requirements for Prinova sourced raw materials with appropriate product managers and regulatory Utilize Prinova China Team and PM’s when networking and sourcing new products Place orders; release orders, quote prices, manage and update price list for formulation Address vendor issues Monitor potential loss due to obsolete or expired inventory Manage location/freight decisions Negotiate return good issues with vendors PO processing: entry, submission, tracking, invoice approval, etc. Sales Order approvals and dashboard management Price requests and other customer inquiries Management of KPI metrics Prepare presentations, as needed Assist with Annual Budget process Other duties may be assigned Qualifications Required Education and/or Experience 3+ years sourcing experience in a distribution/manufacturing environment, preferably in the international food, flavor, and fragrance ingredients industry. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution can be substituted for industry experience in certain situations. Required Skills/Abilities Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills Excellent sales and customer service skills Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate Ability to function well in a high‑paced and at times stressful environment Proficient skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Salesforce.com Familiarity or general aptitude for ERP systems is preferred Travel: Up to 5% travel Work Conditions & Physical Requirements Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Work environment is normally in an office setting. Ability to view a computer screen and type for extended hours. Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time. Ability to adjust work schedule as business needs require. Quality/Safety Responsibilities All Prinova employees are required to ensure compliance standards with food safety, food defense, and food quality (FDA, ILDPH, FSMA, and BRC). It is the responsibility of each employee to comply with occupational safety and health standards issued under OSHA and to follow all rules, regulations, and procedures established by the Company to ensure that their actions do not impact the health and safety of themselves or others. What’s in it for you? Competitive Pay – $65,000 - $75,000 annually (Experience, education, geographic location and shift all taken into consideration). Benefits Medical, Dental, Vision Employer paid STD and LTD HSA and FSA Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave PTO Employer paid Basic Life Insurance 401(k) & Roth with employer match Eight Paid Holidays + 3 Floating Holidays Voluntary - Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Personal growth including training and development opportunities Disclaimer: Prinova is committed to providing equal opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, creed, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, medical leave, marital status, citizenship status, ancestry, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, genetic information, domestic violence victim status, Civil Air Patrol status, or any other characteristic or group status protected under applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr