Strategic Purchasing Manager

Job Summary: Oversees the sourcing, procurement, and inventory management of packaging and support materials across Illing’s facilities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Georgia. Collaborates cross-functionally with Sales, Customer Service, Accounting, and Operations to optimize internal material flow and ensure efficient supply chain performance. Develops and maintains vendor relationships, negotiates favorable contract terms, and manages inventory turnover and pricing to enhance cost-effectiveness. Monitors supplier performance through KPIs, addresses quality issues, and leads ongoing initiatives to reduce costs and strengthen communication between Illing and vendor facilities. Supervisory Responsibilities: Hire, train, and manage purchasing staff in alignment with company policies and best practices. Conduct timely and constructive performance evaluations and establish annual SMART goals with staff. Provide guidance and oversight to purchasing staff on the development, structure, and management of stocking agreements, ensuring alignment with business requirements. Monitor staff performance, provide regular feedback, and support SMART goal achievement. Manage disciplinary actions and terminations in coordination with Human Resources. Lead and participate in training initiatives that support staff development and continuous improvement. Engage in leadership training as needed to enhance supervisory skills. Perform additional supervisory duties as assigned. Duties/Responsibilities: Support Purchasing Associates with daily operations. Manage purchase orders, documentation, invoices, goods receipts, and pricing adjustments using ERP (SyteLine). Monitor inventory levels and adjust purchasing parameters based on data analysis. Coordinate logistics and resolve supplier shipping, quality, and damage issues (RMAs). Track supplier performance using vendor scorecard to ensure quality, on time delivery, and when applicable, contract adherence. Support product sourcing and special purchasing projects. Analyze seasonal trends in commodity purchasing and adjust accordingly. Maintain long-term relationships with key suppliers, ensuring mutual success. Develop and manage customer stocking agreements based on forecasts, supplier MOQs, and lead times, including monitoring performance and communicating variances to Sales. Partner with Sales to develop customer supply agreements aligned with operational and supply chain requirements. Oversee outside processing jobs by understanding production requirements and the desired end product specifications. Collaborate with Sales, Customer Service, Production, Accounting, and Warehouse teams to streamline operations. Ensure compliance with industry regulations and ethical sourcing standards. Update and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Purchasing department. Assist in negotiating vendor contracts and ensure adherence to contract terms. Track pricing adjustments based on indices and benchmarks to prepare each quarterly Sales letter. Required Skills/Abilities: Proficiency in companies operating software, MS-Word and MS-Excel. Exposure to ERP preferred. Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills. Ability to prioritize, demonstrate urgency, and work both independently and as part of a team. Strong attention to detail and appropriate sense of urgency, when working both independently and as a team. Education and Experience: Associate’s degree and at least 5 years of Buying Support or Supply Chain experience required. Bachelor’s Degree preferred. Physical Requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer. Ability to lift up to 15 pounds at a time. Occasional travel to other Illing locations or supplier sites as required. Reasonable accommodations provided for individuals with disabilities. Work location: In-office at Illing Headquarters, Richfield, WI. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.W e are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. #J-18808-Ljbffr Illing Company