Purchasing Manager

Position Summary

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading purchasing activities in support of production schedules, customer requirements, inventory goals, supplier performance, and overall business objectives. This role manages the purchasing function to ensure materials, components, equipment, and services are sourced at the best overall value while meeting quality, delivery, and cost expectations.

The Purchasing Manager works closely with Program Management, Planning, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Finance, and suppliers to resolve material shortages, supplier issues, pricing concerns, account discrepancies, and delivery risks. This position requires strong leadership, sound business judgment, supplier management experience, and the ability to make effective decisions in a fast-paced contract manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage purchasing activities to support production schedules, customer commitments, and inventory requirements.
• Oversee buyer performance, workload priorities, supplier follow-up, purchase order execution, and material shortage resolution.
• Review and analyze material buy lists, MRP requirements, production schedules, supplier lead times, and inventory levels.
• Ensure purchase orders, requisitions, change orders, and RFQs are processed accurately and on time.
• Manage supplier relationships and serve as an escalation point for delivery, pricing, quality, and account issues.
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, delivery terms, and supplier agreements.
• Coordinate purchasing activities with cross-functional teams.
• Monitor supplier performance related to cost, quality, delivery, and reliability.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships and identify alternate sources when needed.
• Support material availability through just-in-time purchasing, EOQ planning, inventory control, and shortage management.
• Expedite, reschedule, or escalate materials to meet production and customer requirements.
• Lead cost analysis, sourcing reviews, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Maintain purchasing data accuracy and review performance metrics.
• Develop purchasing procedures and process improvements.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of purchasing, supply chain, or procurement experience in manufacturing.
• Minimum of 2 years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience in contract manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, or PCBA preferred.
• Experience purchasing electronic components and production materials preferred.
• Previous experience with ERP/MRP systems required.
• Experience managing supplier performance, shortages, and cost reduction efforts required.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong understanding of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, material planning, and inventory control.
• Ability to interpret MRP demand, material reports, and production schedules.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage supplier relationships and resolve complex issues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with strong Excel skills.
• Effective English communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience sourcing electronic components in high-mix, low-volume environments.
• Experience in aerospace, medical, defense, or other high-reliability industries.
• Familiarity with supplier scorecards, corrective actions, and commodity management.
• Experience with lifecycle management, obsolete parts, and long-lead-time planning.
• Experience developing purchasing metrics and improvement plans.

Work Environment

This role operates in both an office and manufacturing environment and requires regular interaction with suppliers, internal departments, production teams, and management. The Purchasing Manager must be comfortable managing changing priorities, urgent material needs, supplier escalations, production deadlines, and customer-driven requirements.

Pay Range

$120,000—$135,000 USD

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable law. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check.