Purchasing Manager

Position Summary:

The Purchasing Manager leads strategic sourcing, procurement, and inventory control activities to ensure cost-effective, reliable, and risk-mitigated material supply. This role is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, implementing consumption-based purchasing models, and strengthening supplier partnerships to reduce delivery risk, control costs, and support business continuity. The position collaborates closely with production, scheduling, and product line teams to align material flow with demand forecasts and customer commitments, while leading a team and ensuring departmental goals are achieved within approved budgets.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities:

Essential functions of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives aligned with business objectives, focusing on cost savings, supply continuity, and risk mitigation.
• Analyze purchasing, pricing, and consumption trends to forecast demand, manage risk, and minimize total landed cost.
• Establish consumption-based purchasing strategies where appropriate (e.g., min/max, Kanban, VMI, blanket orders) to stabilize supply, reduce variability, and optimize cash flow.
• Lead supplier negotiations for pricing, lead times, capacity commitments, and service levels.
• Develop and maintain multi-source and alternate sourcing strategies for critical materials.
• Identify, track, and deliver measurable cost-reduction and value-improvement initiatives.
• Represent the company in contract negotiations and long-term supply agreements.
• Coordinate purchasing activities for materials, equipment, machinery, and supplies.
• Analyze material requirements and place orders based on production demand, consumption signals, and inventory strategies.
• Prepare, issue, and evaluate RFQs and supplier bids.
• Research, qualify, and manage suppliers; evaluate performance related to cost, quality, delivery, and risk.
• Expedite and resolve delivery issues while proactively addressing supplier risks.
• Ensure optimal inventory levels in alignment with Sales goals and inventory targets
• Conduct ongoing inventory analysis to address shortages, excess inventory, obsolescence, and delivery risk.
• Partner with planning to ensure material availability supports production plans and customer requirements.
• Collaborate with product line coordinators and stakeholders on demand planning, forecasting, and shipment commitments.
• Build strong relationships with internal teams and strategic supply partners to improve responsiveness and reliability.
• Lead, coach, and develop purchasing personnel.
• Establish team objectives aligned with sourcing strategy, cost savings, and delivery performance.
• Ensure departmental milestones and KPIs are met
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and ethical standards.
• Performs other related duties as required or assigned.
• Follows company rules and procedures.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management.
• 3 years of supervisory or people-management experience preferred.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Strong expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract management.
• Demonstrated experience implementing consumption-based purchasing and inventory replenishment models.
• Proficiency with MRP/ERP systems and demand planning tools.
• Understanding of supply chain risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Ability to analyze consumption, pricing, and market data to drive informed decisions.
• Strong cost-reduction and continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Detail-oriented, analytical, and results-driven.
• Professional, collaborative, and adaptable approach to work.

Training Requirements:

On-the-job training: 6 months

Travel Requirements:

Travel may be required to support project functions such as supplier visits, product testing, and technical customer meetings.

ITAR Requirements:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Physical Demands: (*)

The position requires that the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to handle or feel.  The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; stoop, and kneel. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with assistance. Vision requirements include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment: (*)

This position will require a working environment mix comprised of office, shop floor, field and customer locations (both domestic and international). While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to static electricity; explosives in test conditions; fumes; airborne particles; outside weather conditions prevalent at the time and an air-conditioned and heated office. The noise level is normally moderate may be occasionally high.

*Note: Both the Physical Demand and Work Environment sections are required by the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

Pay Rate: $120k – $150k