Kennedy Valve- Purchasing Manager

Purchase Manager

Company Description: Kennedy Valve is a foundry and machining company located in Elmira, NY. We are part of the McWane family of companies and have a strong commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and excellence in our products and services.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement purchasing strategies aligned with company goals and production requirements.
• Source, evaluate, and select suppliers based on quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and service performance.
• Manage procurement of direct materials, indirect materials, MRO supplies, capital equipment, and services.
• Ensure uninterrupted material availability to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Lead supplier negotiations for pricing, payment terms, contracts, and service agreements.
• Identify and develop alternate suppliers to reduce risk and improve competitiveness.
• Support supplier quality initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Drive cost savings and productivity improvements through strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Analyze market trends, commodity pricing, and supply chain risks.
• Develop annual cost-reduction plans and track savings performance.
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes related to procurement activities.
• Work closely with Production, Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Finance departments.
• Support new product introductions by sourcing materials and suppliers.
• Participate in inventory management and S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) processes.
• Resolve supply chain disruptions and escalate critical issues as required.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and ethical sourcing standards.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and supplier documentation.
• Develop and report procurement KPIs, including:
• Supplier On-Time Delivery
• Cost Savings
• PPV (Purchase Price Variance)
• Inventories Turns
• Supplier Quality Performance
• Lead Time Reduction

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or related field required.
• Professional certification (APICS/ASCM, CPSM, CPM,) preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• ERP/MRP system experience preferred (AX 2012 R3/D365, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.).

Skills

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and supply chain operations.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficient with all Microsoft Office products.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Understanding of inventory management, forecasting, and production planning.
• Willingness to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) and always follow all safety rules and procedures.