Purchasing Manager

Purchasing ManagerGeorge T. Sanders Company is seeking a hands-on Purchasing Manager to lead purchasing, supplier relationships, and warranty returns. This role supports reliable product availability, purchasing, and disciplined inventory investment. You will work closely with the Director of Supply Chain and Inventory Control to meet branch needs, improve replenishment, and reduce surplus inventory.Key responsibilities include:Leading and developing the purchasing team through coaching, training, performance expectations, and regular team meetings. Ensuring accountability for open orders, back orders, supplier commitments, and timely issue resolution.Planning purchases around sales forecasts, seasonal demand, customer commitments, and lead-times. Negotiating pricing, rebates, cooperative advertising funds, freight, payment terms, and returns. Balancing availability, landed cost, inventory turns, and cash commitments.Collaborating with the Director of Supply Chain and Inventory Control on replenishment, lead times, authorized usage adjustments, and inventory accuracy.Helping coordinate and manage efficient distribution from suppliers and within GTS' infrastructure.Executing surplus reduction through supplier returns, stock rotations, transfers, and order adjustments. Supporting approved SKU additions, product transitions, cycle counts, and inventory investigations.Streamlining new-product integration with Inventory Control, Marketing, Sales, and Branch Management. Maintaining and expanding product knowledge through supplier training, and sharing relevant updates with the team.Leading procurement matters related to our buying group, Affiliated Distributors (AD).Partnering with Accounting on accruals, statement reconciliation, and collection of unpaid or disputed remittances.Overseeing warranties and returns.Monitoring supplier delivery, quality, and shipping accuracy. Creating a vendor scorecard.Communicating supplier price increases, freight changes, lead times, shipping disruptions, allocations, product changes, and warranty updates.Maintaining documented procedures, accurate ERP records, and auditable purchasing and recovery records.Qualifications and capabilities include:Five or more years of purchasing, inventory or supply chain experience in wholesale distribution, including at least two years leading a team. Plumbing, hydronics, and HVAC experience are preferred.Strong product knowledge in plumbing, hydronics, and HVAC. Understand seasonal demand, replenishment, supplier programs, and warranty administration. AD or comparable buying-group experience preferred.Formidable negotiation, analytical, and financial skills, with the ability to evaluate purchasing economics, manage inventory exposure, recover credits, and resolve operational issues.Comfortable and experienced in Public Relations.Proficiency in Excel and distribution ERP systems. Infor CloudSuite Distribution or SX.e experience is helpful.Clear communication, sound judgment, attention to detail, and effective collaboration across departments. Relevant education or equivalent industry experience; purchasing or supply chain certification is a plus.Success is measured by product availability, fill rates, inventory turns, limited surplus, and successful relationships with both suppliers and GTS team. Must hold suppliers and direct reports accountable and help these relationships grow and succeed. Shrewd negotiation tactics aimed at improving purchase price and rebates, while managing leverage through buying power, PR, and markets.Report directly to the Vice President of Sales. Maintain and strengthen relationships with suppliers, Sales and Branch Management. Serve as a key company representative and the face of GTS to supply partners, building trust. Represent the company professionally at meetings, conferences, and industry events. Be accountable to the Director of Supply Chain as well as the VP of Sales. Partner with Inventory Control, Distribution Center, Quotes, Accounting, Pricing, Marketing and eCommerce.This primarily office-based role requires travel to branches, AD conferences, supplier meetings, training and industry events, plus Distribution Center visits. Overnight travel is limited but necessary.Schedule: Monday through Friday with a hybrid schedule: Mondays and Fridays work from home and Tuesdays - Thursdays on-site at the Corporate location.