Purchasing Manager

Purchasing Manager (Production Purchasing)

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading the execution of production purchasing activities to ensure material availability, cost competitiveness, and operational continuity. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Strategic Sourcing, Direct Materials, this role translates sourcing strategies into day-to-day purchasing execution, driving supplier performance, purchase order accuracy, and delivery reliability. This leader manages a team of buyers and/or purchasing professionals and ensures alignment with strategic sourcing direction while maintaining strong operational discipline across procurement processes, systems, and supplier interactions.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Execution

• Lead and develop a team of buyers responsible for production purchasing execution, including purchase order placement, expediting, and supplier communication
• Establish clear expectations, standard work, and performance management routines for purchasing operations
• Drive accountability for material availability, on-time delivery, and execution against supply plans

Production Purchasing Operations

• Oversee the creation, approval, and management of purchase orders to ensure alignment with demand signals and production requirements
• Ensure continuity of supply through proactive management of shortages, lead times, and supplier constraints
• Drive disciplined use of ERP/MRP systems to support accurate planning and execution

Supplier Performance Management

• Manage supplier performance for delivery, responsiveness, and execution reliability
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing on supplier escalations and corrective actions
• Support supplier communication for forecasts, pull-ins, push-outs, and capacity alignment

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Planning, Operations, Engineering, and NPI Procurement to ensure seamless material readiness across the product lifecycle
• Support new product introductions by ensuring transition from NPI to production purchasing is smooth and controlled
• Act as the primary interface between internal stakeholders and suppliers for execution-related matters

Cost & Working Capital Management

• Execute against cost targets by supporting negotiation implementation, pricing adherence, and purchase price variance (PPV) management
• Drive working capital improvements through inventory optimization, order cadence, and payment term execution
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, and negotiated agreements

Process Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Implement standard work, visual management, and RBS principles to improve purchasing efficiency and predictability
• Identify and eliminate process waste in purchasing workflows (e.g., PO cycle time, manual interventions)
• Drive continuous improvement in procurement tools, systems, and reporting

Typical Focus

• Short to mid-term horizon (daily to quarterly execution)
• Operational excellence in purchasing execution and supply continuity
• Supplier performance and responsiveness
• Alignment of purchasing activities with strategic sourcing direction

Key Metrics

• Material availability / line-down avoidance
• Supplier on-time delivery (OTD) and past-due reduction
• Purchase price variance (PPV) vs. target
• Inventory turns / working capital (DOH, DPO alignment)
• Purchase order cycle time and accuracy
• Supplier responsiveness and lead-time adherence

Common Stakeholders

• Strategic Sourcing / Commodity Managers
• NPI Procurement Team
• Production Planning & SIOP
• Manufacturing / Operations Leadership
• Engineering (sustaining & NPI)
• Finance (cost, PPV, working capital)
• Supplier Account Managers

Profile & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of procurement or supply chain experience, with strong emphasis on production purchasing
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams in a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and supply chain planning processes
• Experience managing supplier performance and driving execution improvements
• Proven ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities