Purchasing Manager

Job Description

Sanmina is a global manufacturing powerhouse, generating over $13 billion in annual revenue with a dedicated team of 40,000+ innovators across 21 countries. We support a world-class customer base with groundbreaking products and manufacturing services. Learn more about how we build tomorrow, today, at

Job Title: Purchasing Manager

Location: Houston, TX

The Opportunity

We are seeking a high-energy, ambitious Purchasing Manager to join the leadership team for our brand-new Houston manufacturing facility. This is a "Greenfield" project for a facility specializing in high-complexity, mission-critical industrial components.

This high-visibility leadership role is designed for a strategic procurement professional looking to own the end-to-end supply chain for a major facility launch. You will be the architect of the supply chain workflows for a high-complexity industrial environment, moving beyond simple transactions to drive strategic department leadership and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Department Foundation: Design and execute procurement protocols and vendor onboarding processes for a new facility managing a high volume of unique, technical components and specialty raw materials.

• Team Leadership: Direct and mentor a core team of 1-2 Buyers, establishing KPIs and a culture of proactive supply chain management.

• Operational Execution: Execute procurement activities based on sourcing decisions made by the Global Strategic Sourcing team. Manage specialized sourcing of customer-mandated "buy items" alongside a complex portfolio of OEM parts and custom-fabricated components.

• Technical Commodity Management: Oversee the procurement of high-spec raw materials (metals, chemicals, and specialized fluids) ensuring technical compliance and continuity of supply.

• Strategic Sourcing & TCO: Utilize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models to drive sourcing decisions beyond just the initial price point, accounting for logistics, quality, and lead times.

• Vendor Relationship Management: Maintain and manage relationships with suppliers-including international vendors-to ensure strict adherence to quality standards, payment terms, and delivery schedules.

• Inventory Optimization: Monitor and manage inventory levels in close coordination with planning and suppliers to ensure inventory turns match operational targets, particularly for long-lead-time items.

• KPI Execution & Tracking: Lead supplier performance reviews and manage weekly supply buys. Actively track and manage Purchase Price Variance (PPV) to ensure favorable financial outcomes.

• Supply Chain Integration: Coordinate closely with the global commodity team to ensure the arrival of precision-engineered components is synchronized with raw material availability and production schedules.

• Margin Stewardship: Protect plant profitability through aggressive lead-time management and sophisticated pricing negotiations with technical vendors.

Required Experience & Education

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field is required.

• Professional Tenure: 6-8+ years of progressive experience in industrial procurement, specifically within heavy manufacturing.

• Industry Focus: Experience in heavy industrial manufacturing, complex assembly, or precision-engineered equipment is a significant advantage.

• Systems Expertise: Proficiency in Oracle or SAP is highly preferred. Candidates must understand how to leverage Tier-1 ERP systems to manage complex data.

• Technical Fluency: Ability to interpret technical specifications, engineering drawings, and navigate complex Bills of Materials (BOMs) to effectively negotiate with custom fabrication and OEM vendors.

• Certifications (Preferred): Professional designations such as CPSM or CSCP are a strong plus.

Sanmina is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity