Purchasing & Inventory Systems Manager

Join to apply for the Purchasing & Inventory Systems Manager role at RAM Windows & Doors Location: Houston, TX (On-site) Reports To: Vice President of Operations Base pay range $115,000.00/yr - $140,000.00/yr We’re looking for a hands‑on Purchasing Manager who is as comfortable in an MRP system and Excel as they are leading negotiations and working with Operations. This role manages $15M+ in annual spend across glass, aluminum, hardware, packaging, MRO, freight, and subcontract services. The real impact is in owning our inventory and purchasing data so the system drives smart decisions instead of firefighting. Over time, this role will also own data collection and analysis around material waste and scrap, refining system scrap factors to match actual plant performance and partnering with Operations and Engineering to reduce plant‑wide waste through better processes, smarter buying patterns, and BOM/routing improvements. You’ll lead a dedicated team consisting of purchasing coordinators and inventory analysts and serve as the point person for inventory accuracy, purchasing processes, MRP‑driven ordering, and material yield insights. Warehouse/receiving and material handling staff will report through Operations; this role sets standards, processes, and KPIs and partners closely with Operations to ensure execution. Key Responsibilities Inventory & MRP System Ownership Own day‑to‑day integrity of purchasing and inventory data in WTS Paradigm (MasterPoint/TrackPoint). Audit and clean up part masters (UoM, lead times, reorder points, safety stock, sourcing info) and vendor/item records. Work with Engineering to ensure BOM‑related purchasing data is accurate and maintained. Build and run regular exception reports to identify discrepancies, anomalies, and “bad data,” then drive root‑cause fixes. Manage the purchasing of aluminum extrusions, glass, hardware, gaskets, sealants, foam, tape, packaging, MRO, safety/PPE, subcontract install/field labor, and freight/LTL. Lead vendor negotiations on pricing, terms, and lead times; identify consolidation and cost improvement opportunities once internal data is reliable. Oversee the generation, review, and approval of purchase orders driven by MRP and production demand. Establish and track vendor performance metrics (on‑time delivery, quality issues, responsiveness) and use them to drive sourcing, consolidation, and escalation decisions. Identify single‑source or high‑risk materials and work with Operations, Engineering, and Leadership on contingency plans (alternate vendors, safety stock strategies, etc.). Process, Documentation & Inventory Control Refine existing SOPs and develop new ones where gaps exist for new part/vendor setup, inventory adjustments, cycle counting, MRP review/PO creation, and receiving/put‑away/transaction timing. Train and coach the purchasing and inventory teams to follow standard processes and maintain high data quality. Partner with Operations and warehouse/receiving leadership to ensure material handlers are trained and held accountable to these processes. Lead or co‑lead the planning and design of physical inventories (or full‑cycle‑count programs) with Operations; ensure counts reconcile to system records and that process gaps identified during counts are documented and corrected. Partner with production, quality, and engineering to capture and analyze material usage, yield, and scrap by product family, line, and process. Compare actual scrap to system scrap factors; refine and maintain scrap rates in the system so standards reflect real‑world performance. Use data trends to identify high‑waste areas and prioritize projects (process changes, BOM adjustments, alternate materials, vendor changes, etc.) to reduce scrap and improve yield. Work with operations and accounting to ensure improvements in scrap and yield are reflected in: Purchasing decisions and order quantities Standard cost assumptions and quoting inputs Inventory planning and safety stock strategies Inventory Health & Obsolescence Management Monitor and report on slow‑moving, excess, and obsolete inventory; recommend disposition actions (rework, sell‑through, scrap, or return to vendor where possible). Partner with Sales and Engineering to plan run‑outs and rationalization of low‑velocity SKUs, ensuring BOMs, stocking strategies, and purchasing parameters are updated accordingly. Incorporate learnings from obsolete/slow‑moving items into buying patterns, safety stock levels, and part/BOM setup to prevent recurrence. KPIs & Reporting Define, track, and regularly report key purchasing and inventory KPIs (e.g., inventory turns, days on hand, stockouts, vendor OTIF, cycle count coverage/variance, scrap, and key PPV drivers). Build reliable, mostly Excel‑based reporting from Paradigm exports for weekly and monthly reviews with Operations, Finance, and Leadership. Use KPI trends to prioritize improvement projects and validate that process and system changes are delivering measurable results. Team Leadership & Cross‑Functional Work Directly lead purchasing coordinators and inventory analysts. Partner closely with: Production and scheduling on material availability and demand Warehouse/material handling on transactions and cycle counts Accounting on 3‑way match, variances, and invoice discrepancies Engineering on new parts, BOM changes, and technical requirements Work with Accounting to analyze purchase price variances (PPV) and material usage variances, identify root causes (price changes, scrap, BOM issues, minimum buys, etc.), and implement corrective actions. Support Finance and Leadership in setting and maintaining realistic standard costs and scrap factors for key materials so that financial results align with how the plant actually runs. What Success Looks Like (First 12–18 Months) Material masters, vendor records, and key MRP parameters (lead times, reorder points, safety stock, scrap factors) are accurate, documented, and actively maintained. Inventory accuracy and cycle count results are trending up and within agreed tolerances. Stockouts due to data issues are significantly reduced or eliminated, coupled with increased inventory turns driven by well‑educated purchasing decisions. Clear SOPs are in place, followed, and used to onboard and train new team members in Purchasing and Inventory; Operations uses them to train and manage warehouse/receiving staff. Purchasing activity is governed by clean data and a standard cadence, not constant firefighting. System scrap rates are aligned with actual plant performance, and total material waste as a percentage of usage is trending down with documented projects and actions behind that improvement. Slow‑moving and obsolete inventory is visible, actively managed, and reduced over time through coordinated disposition and SKU rationalization efforts. Core purchasing and inventory KPIs are reported consistently and used in monthly reviews to drive decisions and continuous improvement. Minimum Qualifications 5+ years of combined experience in purchasing, inventory management, and planning within an MRP/ERP environment; 7–10 years preferred. Demonstrated experience maintaining part masters and driving inventory accuracy (not just placing POs). Experience working cross‑functionally with Operations/Production and warehouse or supply chain teams. Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, Accounting, or related field preferred (equivalent experience considered). Preferred Qualifications Experience in manufacturing (building products, construction materials, or similar environments is a plus). Prior responsibility for cleaning up or implementing an MRP/ERP‑driven inventory system. Experience leading a small team (buyers, planners, and/or inventory analysts). Familiarity with WTS Paradigm / MasterPoint / TrackPoint or other window / door / fenestration systems. APICS/CPIM/CSCP or similar training/certifications. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. Extreme pride in accuracy and data quality; you hate unexplained differences. “Trust but verify” mindset – you double‑check before you assume. Ownership mentality – you don’t just point out problems; you fix them and harden the process. Calm and steady under pressure when production is tight, but with a strong sense of urgency and accountability. Willingness to challenge “we’ve always done it this way” when the data shows a better path. Curiosity about how material flows through the plant and how yield and scrap impact cost and cash, not just inventory counts. Base Salary: Target range $115,000 – $135,000, depending on experience and fit; up to $140,000 for an exceptional candidate. Bonus: Target 10% of base tied to clear KPIs (inventory accuracy, stockouts, cycle count performance, data cleanup milestones, on‑time material availability, scrap/yield improvements). Schedule: Full‑time, standard business hours, on‑site at our Houston facility (no hybrid for this role). Travel: Minimal; approximately 5–7 days per year for vendor visits or occasional conferences. Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Supply Chain Industries Wholesale Building Materials Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at RAM Windows & Doors by 2x #J-18808-Ljbffr RAM Windows & Doors