Purchasing Manager

Purchasing Manager

The Purchasing Manager develops and implements procurement policies that ensure compliance, drive cost efficiency, and support company objectives while overseeing vendor contracts, supplier relationships, programs, warranties, and marketing funds. This role manages inventory costing and levels in alignment with strategic goals, leads strategic sourcing and contract administration, and directs all procurement activities across the company's product and vendor portfolio. The position also incorporates forecasting and demand planning to optimize purchasing decisions, maintain proper inventory, and reduce risk, while providing strong team management to ensure performance, efficiency, and continuous improvement. This highly visible role interacts regularly with internal and external stakeholders and will periodically serve in a client-facing capacity.

Essential Job Duties

• Direct, maintain, and establish best purchasing practices in alignment with company P&L goals
• Proactively evaluate, assess, and select high-performing vendors based on capabilities, reliability, and quality, while ensuring vendor records are accurately maintained with Accounts Payable. Strengthen supplier partnerships and actively oversee all required vendor certifications to keep them current and compliant.
• Lead strategic negotiation of contracts and terms to secure advantageous pricing, service levels, and long-term value within company policy.
• Initiate and manage special bid pricing opportunities to maximize competitive advantage.
• Oversee and prioritize all RFQs from the sales department to support timely, accurate quoting and project execution.
• Drive comprehensive cost analysis, leveraging company resources to achieve optimal pricing and superior product quality.
• Direct the end-to-end processing of purchase orders, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with inventory and forecasting strategies.
• Maintain and review weekly, monthly, and annual reporting to inform leadership decisions and highlight trends or improvement opportunities.
• Communicate proactively with internal stakeholders regarding project status, inventory positions, and any emerging supply chain risks, ensuring transparency and alignment.
• Approve vendor return authorizations and manage resolutions to ensure timely, efficient outcomes.
• Lead and develop team members through regular performance reviews, coaching, and support to meet organizational and departmental goals.
• Hire, train, onboard, and evaluate direct reports to build a high-performing procurement team.
• Oversee performance management for the entire function, driving accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Non-Essential Job Duties

• Supply Chain leadership
• Logistics knowledge
• Point of Sale equipment experience and/or knowledge

Essential Job Duties

• Technical Capacity
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Word and Excel
• ERP Experience – Netsuite preferred, familiarity with Netstock a plus
• Written and Oral Communication Skills
• Advanced Analytical Skills
• Detail Oriented & Highly Organized
• Ability to meet deadlines and administer a task priority listing based on company needs
• Ability to work in a team environment

Success Factors:

• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Change Management Exposure
• Project Management or Coordination Experience
• Data-Driven Decision-Making
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Vendor or Stakeholder Negotiation Skills
• Experience Implementing New Processes or Tools
• Strong Organizational or Prioritization Skills
• Problem-Solving or Root-Cause Analysis Experience
• Intermediate to Advanced Excel or ERP Utilization

Education and Experience

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or similar relevant field of study and 8 to 10 years of procurement experience or 15+ years of procurement experience in lieu of degree.

Working Conditions

This position operates in a standard open office & hybrid environment. There may be times when presence is expected in a warehouse environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position manages all employees of the department and is responsible for the performance management, hiring and on-boarding of employees within the department.