Purchasing Manager

About the role

Crawford Electric Supply is a company committed to building a relationship with its employees, encouraging fun at work, and valuing diversity. It operates as part of the Sonepar group, the world's largest electrical distributor.

Responsibilities

• Develop purchasing department policies and procedures for buyers and other branch personnel to follow.
• Assure appropriate department records are maintained.
• Participate in RFP process to recommend or approve selection of major vendors.
• Establish and develop professional relationships with vendors, manufacturers, and agents.
• Negotiate terms of major vendor contracts or orders.
• Recommend or approve major purchases of materials based on anticipated changes in pricing or unusual availability situations.
• Review and approve purchasing documents and agreements.
• Responsible for Inventory Management.
• Participate in Product Line Consolidation process.
• Review branch product lines and secure competitive pricing.
• Establish policies that allow us to maintain minimum inventory levels while avoiding shortages of necessary materials to service our customers.
• Responsible for achieving inventory ratios and goals.
• Establish good rapport with branch managers and management team to develop trust and solid working relationships to accomplish common goals and strategic planning.
• Understand logistics of products within each branch location. Evaluate and recommend preferred methods of handling and delivery methods. Evaluate preferred carrying costs for potential company savings.
• Provide summary reports and recommendations to management.
• Perform other duties, assigned projects and job responsibilities as requested by President, Management & Leadership.
• Represent team at internal management meetings, and responsible for executing decisions and action items as a result of these meetings.
• Responsible for traveling and attending purchasing meetings and complying with all reporting requests and requirements pertaining to purchasing and inventory.
• Attend industry related functions, such as NAED and other vendor events as requested by President.
• Spearhead investigations for technology improvement that helps departmental productivity gains.
• Continuous learning and education to build purchasing, negotiation, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of electrical products and distribution industry.
• At least 5 years buying experience, with a minimum of 2 years as a supervisor of a purchasing department or supervising other personnel.
• Eclipse experience preferred.
• Four year college degree preferred with a minimum of 2-year associates degree or equivalent from a college or technical school.
• Minimum of 4 years of industry related experience, such as product, sales, purchasing, project or operations.
• Proven negotiating and contract writing skills.
• Highly effective communicator, both verbal and written, and advanced management or supervisory experience.