Purchasing Manager

About the role

The Purchase Manager leads the purchasing function and is responsible for stabilizing and scaling our manufacturing supply chain, linking international sourcing strategy with day-to-day production needs. The role owns the purchasing lifecycle end to end. That includes directing the company’s most significant supplier negotiations, overseeing international procurement and import logistics as well as domestic and local purchasing, and building a more resilient supply base. The primary business objective is continuous material cost reduction (TCO optimization) while ensuring zero production downtime due to component shortages or international logistics bottlenecks. The Purchase Manager works closely with Engineering, Finance, and Operations on standard costs, make-vs-buy decisions, and new product introduction, and is accountable for verifiable savings against budget across all purchased materials and services.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Development: Direct, mentor, and evaluate a team of 3 Buyers. Allocate workload effectively based on commodities (e.g., metals, electronics, hydraulics, logistics) and foster professional growth within the department. Supervise and develop the purchasing team, including hiring, training, and performance management. Own procurement policies, approval thresholds, and documentation standards for the department.
• Global Sourcing Strategy: Identify, evaluate, and onboard international suppliers to diversify our supply chain, optimize costs, and secure high-quality direct materials.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) & Make vs. Buy: Perform granular land-cost modeling and "Make vs. Buy" analyses (e.g., determining whether machine components in-house vs. source injection-molded parts globally). Lead negotiations for direct and indirect materials, capital expenditures, and services, securing the lowest total cost of ownership.
• End-to-End Import Logistics: Oversee international freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and multi-modal transportation (ocean, air, rail, road).
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to international trade laws, customs regulations, and import/export documentation requirements (including Commercial Invoices, Bills of Lading, Certificates of Origin, and HS Tariff Classifications).
• Incoterms & Contract Negotiation: Establish clear risk and cost boundaries by negotiating international contracts utilizing the correct Incoterms (e.g., FOB, CIF, DDP).
• Production Continuity & JIT: Synchronize international transit lead times with local Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and Just-In-Time (JIT) manufacturing schedules to prevent production downtime.
• Industrial Capital Component Procurement: Partner with engineering to qualify global suppliers for precision hydraulic power units, heavy-duty electric motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), high-pressure water pumps, and electronic control panels (PLCs).
• Vendor & Broker Performance: Manage relationships and negotiate SLAs with international suppliers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers, auditing their performance regularly. Assess and mitigate risk tied to material availability, geopolitical factors, and supplier financial health.
• Supplier Accountability & Risk Management: Establish KPIs and conduct regular performance reviews with key domestic and international suppliers to optimize quality control, lead times, and cost-reduction initiatives. Serve as the procurement lead on New Product Introduction (NPI) projects, engaging suppliers early, providing cost estimates, and securing long-lead-time materials. Drive cost reduction through value engineering, volume consolidation, and other strategies, and report verifiable savings against budget. Partner with Engineering and Operations to set and maintain accurate standard costs for all components and assemblies in the ERP system. Manage internal pricing structures for finished goods and service parts to meet profitability targets. Support annual budgeting by forecasting commodity price trends and projected material spend. Refine purchasing processes and systems for improved efficiency, transparency, and compliance.
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or Business Administration.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 to 7 years of industrial manufacturing procurement experience, with at least 2+ years of experience leading, supervising, or mentoring a procurement team. Experience in heavy machinery, vehicle-wash equipment, or capital equipment manufacturing is highly preferred.
• Technical Acumen: Ability to guide buyers through technical engineering drawings, Bills of Materials (BOM), and material specifications for chemical/high-moisture environments.
• Proven track record leading complex, multi-million-dollar negotiations and managing long-term supplier contracts.
• CPSM, C