Aws Bahjat
Riverwoods,IL
Summary
Dynamic supply chain and strategic sourcing leader with a history of optimizing procurement processes and driving product category growth. Achieved a 30% reduction in shipping delays and contributed to 20% product sales growth through enhanced supplier coordination and strategic sourcing initiatives. Currently pursuing an MBA to deepen expertise in global supply chain management.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Director, Sourcing and Operations
International Importing LLC
Deerfield, USA
2025.01 - Current
- Established partnerships with 10+ international suppliers, coordinating sourcing of 40+ specialty food products to enhance product offerings.
- Negotiated competitive supplier pricing, purchasing terms, and shipment coordination, facilitating successful product launches.
- Led sourcing and supplier development for a specialty food importing and distribution business serving the U.S. market.
- Evaluated supplier capabilities, pricing, product quality, availability, lead times, and logistics requirements before onboarding new vendors.
- Managed end-to-end logistics coordination, including ocean freight, customs documentation, distributor communication, and delivery follow-up.
- Identified supplier opportunities and reviewed cost drivers, aligning sourcing decisions with market demand to drive product category growth.
- Coordinated with suppliers, freight partners, distributors, and internal stakeholders to resolve delivery, documentation, and product availability issues.
Supply Chain Manager
Euphrates Food, LLC
Northbrook, USA
2020.01 - Current
- Managed supplier relationships with 25 international manufacturers across Europe, Middle East, and South Asia, enhancing sourcing, pricing, and delivery performance.
- Coordinate approximately 48 international container shipments annually, representing about $1.5M in imported product flow.
- Reduced shipping delays by 30% through improved supplier communication, documentation accuracy, logistics planning, and shipment follow-up.
- Expanded supplier network by 15 vendors, enhancing sourcing flexibility and product availability.
- Support sourcing and management of 50+ specialty food SKUs distributed in the U.S. market.
- Reviewed supplier pricing, landed costs, and lead times to inform sourcing decisions and optimize category management.
- Partner with suppliers, distributors, freight providers, and internal stakeholders to improve delivery reliability and resolve shipment or documentation issues.
- Monitor supplier documentation, quality records, and compliance requirements to reduce import risk and support reliable product availability.
- Contributed to 20% product sales growth by improving sourcing strategy, supplier coordination, and product availability.
Operations & Procurement Associate
Labeeb Alani, Inc.
Illinois, USA
2018.01 - 2020.01
- Coordinated supplier sourcing, purchasing operations, vendor communication, and logistics for imported food products, enhancing overall procurement efficiency.
- Facilitated supplier negotiations, conducted product availability checks, and performed pricing comparisons to optimize purchasing decisions.
- Strengthened supplier relationships and managed daily procurement, sourcing, and logistics activities to ensure seamless operations.
- Coordinated shipment schedules, logistics documentation, supplier follow-up, and import-related communication.
- Supported operational planning by tracking supplier information, delivery timelines, product requirements, and documentation needs.
Education
Master of Business Administration - iMBA Candidate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, IL2027-07
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL2023-01
Skills
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Vendor Negotiation
- Strategic Sourcing Support
- Procurement Support
- Category Management Support
- Supplier Performance Monitoring
- Cost Optimization
- Logistics Management
- Demand Planning
- Cost Analysis
- Delivery Performance Improvement
- Supply Market Awareness
- Contract Support
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- International Trade
- Regulatory Compliance
- Advanced Excel
Timeline
Founder & Director, Sourcing and Operations
International Importing LLC
2025.01 - Current
Supply Chain Manager
Euphrates Food, LLC
2020.01 - Current
Operations & Procurement Associate
Labeeb Alani, Inc.
2018.01 - 2020.01
Master of Business Administration - iMBA Candidate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
Northeastern Illinois University