Purchasing Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Description – Purchasing Manager

Location: Herschel Parts – Indianola, Iowa
Reports To: Director of Operations

Position Summary

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading the procurement and supply management activities for Herschel Parts, including distributed product lines, raw materials, and manufacturing consumables. This role ensures the right materials are available at the right time, cost, and quality to support customer service, production efficiency, and profitability.

The Purchasing Manager will develop strong supplier partnerships, optimize inventory investment, improve procurement processes, and leverage ERP systems to support data-driven purchasing decisions. This role plays a key part in supporting operational performance and margin improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement & Supply Management

• Lead sourcing and purchasing activities for:
• • Distributed parts and finished goods
  • Raw materials and production inputs
  • Plant consumables and operating supplies
• Ensure uninterrupted supply while balancing service levels and inventory turns.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, lead times, freight, and supplier agreements.
• Monitor market conditions, cost trends, and supply risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Support dual sourcing and supplier development strategies where appropriate.

Inventory & Planning

• Manage inventory levels to support customer demand while minimizing excess and obsolescence.
• Establish and maintain reorder parameters, safety stocks, and purchasing policies.
• Collaborate with sales, production, and planning teams on demand forecasts and replenishment.
• Drive improvements in inventory accuracy, turns, and working capital performance.

Supplier Management

• Build and manage strong supplier relationships with a focus on quality, delivery, innovation, and cost competitiveness.
• Evaluate supplier performance through scorecards and regular business reviews.
• Resolve supply, quality, or delivery issues in coordination with operations and quality teams.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Utilize ERP/MRP systems to plan, execute, and analyze purchasing activities.
• Maintain accurate purchasing, costing, vendor, and item master data.
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, controls, and reporting.
• Support ERP optimization initiatives; experience with NetSuite is considered a strong asset.

Financial & Strategic Contribution

• Support margin improvement through strategic sourcing and cost reduction initiatives.
• Analyze purchasing trends, pricing opportunities, and total cost impacts.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and procurement-related reporting.
• Support new product launches and sourcing strategies for growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or related field.
• 5+ years progressive purchasing/procurement experience, preferably in manufacturing or industrial distribution.
• Strong understanding of inventory planning, sourcing, and supplier negotiations.
• Proficiency with ERP systems required; NetSuite experience preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills considered an asset.

Key Competencies

• Strategic sourcing mindset
• Negotiation and supplier management
• Inventory and planning discipline
• ERP and systems proficiency
• Commercial and financial acumen
• Continuous improvement orientation
• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• High degree of accountability and follow-through