Purchasing Manager

About the role

The Purchasing Manager supervises, purchases, and represents regional cost savings goals. Responsibilities include Production Commodities, Indirect Purchasing (MRO, Maintenance Services & Stores Sourcing), Environmental & Construction Services, and Capital Projects.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead a purchasing team to ensure requisitioned materials and services are sourced with suppliers meeting Plant Objectives and Quality System requirements.
• Drive local SOX Compliance and coordinate with other facilities to achieve corporate SOX Compliance.
• Develop and administer commercial aspects of supply agreements, negotiate major commodity contracts, and manage VMI and consignment stock programs.
• Support Production Commodities sourcing, quality, and inventories to align with Operation requirements.
• Implement regional and global purchasing strategies to meet company profitability and cost reduction goals.
• Coordinate long-term supply agreements to achieve quarterly savings goals supporting Plant Operations and Maintenance.
• Work cross-functionally with various departments to ensure effective sourcing coordination with operations, quality, maintenance, engineering, logistics, accounting, and finance.
• Ensure compliance with business controls, ethics policies, procedures, laws, and standard business practices, including SOX compliance.
• Mentor, develop, and coach staff members on negotiation strategies, project management, and stock management through VMI and consignment stock programs.
• Manage supplier on-time delivery and inventory to support Plant Production Goals.
• Serve as a liaison between Quality Department and Raw Material Suppliers to ensure compliance with established procedures.
• Report progress on cost reduction initiatives on a weekly basis.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality, on-time delivery, and competitive pricing to support Plant Operations goals while minimizing inventory carrying costs.

Qualifications

• BA or BS in Business or related major (Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering).
• MBA or ISM Certification preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive purchasing experience (Raw Materials, Capital Equipment, and/or Indirect) at a heavy manufacturing company.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of purchasing supervision, management, or team leading experience at a heavy manufacturing company.

Additional Responsibilities

• Commitment to satisfying internal customers' requirements.
• Lead and participate in multidisciplinary teams.
• Lead and delegate projects to improve supplier quality, on-time delivery, and cost reduction within a stated timeline.
• Lead capital equipment projects that meet original cost targets and ensure suppliers meet the project schedule.
• Strong negotiator ensuring continued supply of key commodities and support supplier's cost reduction efforts.

Competencies

• Analytical: Analyzes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; uses intuition and experience to complement data; designs work flows and procedures.
• Business Acumen: Demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of business drivers; uses this knowledge when making business decisions.
• Customer Focus: Knows customers and manages expectations; meets internal and external customer expectations; gains customers' trust and respect; actively seeks customer feedback; quickly solves customer problems.
• Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions and opinions of others; accepts feedback from others; gives appropriate recognition to others.
• Strategic Thinking: Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; analyzes market and competition; identifies external threats and opportunities; adapts strategy to changing conditions.
• Planning/Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
• Teamwork: Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; builds morale and group commitment to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related major (Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering).
• Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Institute of Supply Management (ISM) certification preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive purchasing experience (Raw Materials, Capital Equipment, and/or Indirect) at a heavy manufacturing company.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of purchasing supervision, management, or team leading experience at a heavy manufacturing company.

Special Skills

• ISM, APICS, and/or Six Sigma Black/Green Belt Certification(s) desirable.
• Trained and participated in continuous improvement and lean manufacturing techniques and events.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Independent, self-directed, action-oriented, with a strong work ethic.
• Highly ethical business standards in all activities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to make presentations.
• Excellent data manipulation and analysis skills to make independent purchasing decisions.
• Experience with SAP or similar materials management ERP system highly desired.

Additional Notes

[Proof of US citizenship, nationality, and/or permanent resident status in order to comply with all applicable export and import laws and regulations.]

Physical Demands

Frequently required to lift up to 50 pounds. Frequent exposure to heavy manufacturing and industrial environments, temperatures ranging from 32 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, sitting for extended periods, standing, walking, and using hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling may also be required. Frequently required to travel up to 25%.

Work Environment

The typical work environment is a standard office setting. Employee is frequently required to perform work in a mill environment with regular exposure to wet or humid conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals. Typical noise levels can vary from quiet to moderate to loud conditions.