Manager, Purchase Order Management

Job Description

Job Description

The Manager, Purchase Order (PO) Management is responsible for leading a team that manages the end-to-end purchase order lifecycle—from PO issuance through supplier production and final shipment. This role ensures on-time delivery, adherence to lead times, and effective coordination with outsourced suppliers , while driving process efficiency and accountability across the supply chain.

This position plays a critical role in maintaining supplier performance, mitigating delays, and ensuring a consistent flow of goods aligned with business demand.

Key Responsibilities

PO Lifecycle Management

• Oversee the full lifecycle of purchase orders, from creation to shipment and delivery confirmation
• Ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance of all PO documentation and system records
• Monitor open orders and proactively resolve delays, shortages, or discrepancies
• Maintain visibility to PO status across suppliers and internal stakeholders

Supplier & Vendor Management

• Act as primary escalation point for supplier performance, delivery issues, and capacity constraints
• Build and maintain strong relationships with outsourced suppliers and vendors
• Track supplier KPIs (on-time delivery, lead time adherence, fill rates, quality)
• Partner with sourcing teams to improve supplier reliability and responsiveness

On-Time Shipping & Lead Time Performance

• Drive accountability for on-time shipment performance across all suppliers
• Analyze lead times and identify opportunities for reduction and improvement
• Collaborate with suppliers to optimize production schedules and shipping timelines
• Implement corrective actions for late shipments and recurring delays

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for PO execution and supplier follow-up
• Establish clear performance metrics and daily/weekly operating cadence
• Drive accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Allocate workload and prioritize critical orders based on business needs

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with sourcing, logistics, planning, and finance teams to ensure alignment
• Communicate risks, delays, and recovery plans to internal stakeholders
• Support demand planning and inventory management through accurate PO tracking
• Ensure alignment between supplier commitments and business requirements

Process Improvement & Reporting

• Identify and implement process improvements in PO management workflows
• Develop reporting dashboards for:
  • On-time delivery (OTD)
  • Lead time performance
  • Supplier scorecards
• Drive system utilization (ERP/MRP) to improve visibility and efficiency
• Standardize best practices for PO tracking and supplier communication

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Logistics, or related field
• 5–10+ years experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or purchasing
• 2–5+ years of people management experience
• Strong experience managing purchase orders and supplier relationships
• Proven track record improving on-time delivery and lead time performance

Preferred

• Experience working with overseas / outsourced suppliers
• ERP system experience (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.)
• Background in manufacturing, retail, or consumer goods supply chains
• Lean / Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong execution and follow-through mindset
• Supplier management and negotiation skills
• Analytical skills (lead time, delays, root cause analysis)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management
• Data-driven decision making and KPI management

Success Metrics (KPIs)

• On-Time Shipment % (OTD)
• Lead Time Adherence / Reduction
• PO Cycle Time
• Supplier Performance Scorecards
• Open Order Aging / Past Due Orders
• Team productivity and SLA adherence