Associate Manager, Purchasing

Job Summary Strategic Purchasing Supervisor leads the procurement, tracking, and lifecycle management of automotive part samples critical to product development and quality assurance. This is a high-impact role requiring a blend of technical automotive knowledge and rigorous administrative oversight. The Supervisor ensures the seamless flow of materials from global and local vendors, manages order lifecycles from request to delivery, and provides stakeholders with data-driven updates. Beyond simple transactions, this role is responsible for strategic vendor negotiation, budget accountability, and leading a high-performing procurement team. Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Evaluation: Identify and vet suppliers based on technical compliance, lead times, and pricing. Proactively seek bulk discounts and strategic partnerships to optimize the procurement budget. Lifecycle Order Management: Oversee the full procurement cycle—from receiving requests from Product Management/QC to final delivery—ensuring all part specifications and quantities are strictly met. Advanced Tracking & Reporting: Supervise the maintenance of the centralized purchasing log. Ensure all ETAs are accurate and internal stakeholders receive real-time updates on order statuses. Back-Order Mitigation: Rapidly assess alternatives for back-ordered parts. Lead the team in pivoting to new suppliers or sourcing methods to prevent project delays. Financial Oversight & Compliance: Partner with Accounts Payable to ensure all invoices, receipts, and expense reports are submitted accurately and on time. Audit monthly spending against deliverables. Logistics Coordination: Compile and verify detailed packing lists, collaborating with Development and QC teams to ensure parts are routed correctly upon arrival. Vendor Relations: Build and maintain rapport with dealerships and local suppliers. Proactively follow up on delayed shipments and take corrective action to resolve logistics bottlenecks. Team Leadership: Supervise direct reports, delegating tasks effectively to ensure 100% coverage of sourcing requests and vendor follow-ups. Continuous Improvement: Reevaluate purchasing habits regularly to identify better sourcing options and more efficient workflows. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strategic Negotiation: Proven ability to build vendor rapport and negotiate favorable terms (e.g., bulk pricing, expedited shipping). Automotive Expertise: Deep understanding of OEM/OES parts, makes, models, and dealer parts counter systems (e.g., EPCs). Project Management: Ability to manage 20+ concurrent sample requests with a focus on a two-week turnaround. Systems Proficiency: Intermediate to Advanced Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Teams. Communication: High-level verbal and written skills for cross-functional collaboration and external vendor management. Self-Starter Mentality: A 'no downtime' approach to checking in parts and initiating new requests immediately upon receipt. Minimum Job Requirements High School Diploma or GED. 3+ years of experience in automotive parts (sales, sourcing, service writing, or counter experience). Prior experience in a supervisory or lead role with a focus on task delegation. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and professional email etiquette. Preferred Qualifications Education: Degree or certificate in Automotive Technology. Certification: ASE Certification (P2 Parts Specialist or similar). Experience: Background in accounting or heavy expense reporting. Working Conditions and Physical Effort Physical: Must be able to lift, lower, and carry products up to 50 lbs. Environment: Primary office setting with frequent presence in a warehouse environment. Safety: Must wear appropriate safety attire (e.g., steel-toe boots) when working in or walking through warehouse zones. Movement: Requires regular sitting, standing, bending, and climbing stairs. The Company reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. TrakMotive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr Advanced Innovative Technology Corp. TrakMotive