Purchasing Manager

About the Role

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for overseeing all procurement activities within the Ashland Industries facility, including managing subcontracting operations. This role ensures the timely and cost-effective acquisition of raw materials, production supplies, equipment, and outsourced services or components required for manufacturing, while also developing and maintaining strong vendor relationships. This role also ensures the efficient acquisition of goods and services for manufacturing by managing supplier relationships, issuing RFQs, creating POs, and resolving issues like delays and quality concerns. As the Purchasing Manager, the role involves procurement documentation, basic reporting, and analysis, while maintaining accuracy and efficiency in a fast-paced environment.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Oversee and manage purchasing activities in WI
• Develop and maintain purchasing and inventory strategies to maximize profitability while minimizing risk
• Collaborate with purchasers to evaluate the performance of vendors
• Authorize vendor contracts
• Review and approve new suppliers and products
• Ensure backup suppliers are available for all critical materials and components
• Work with Inventory Control to meet inventory requirements and targets
• Provide ROI reports to management for cost savings initiatives
• Monitor cost fluctuations and provide reports to Finance
• Use market research to identify emerging suppliers, assess pricing, and anticipate supply demand shifts.
• Make informed decisions to optimize procurement strategies.
• Draft, review, and manage contracts to ensure all agreed upon terms are met.
• Mitigate risks
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality service and competitive pricing.
• Assess risks, evaluate alternatives, and choose the best course of action to ensure optimal procurement outcomes
• Evaluate supplier performance, tracking procurement metrics, and identifying trends in purchasing data.
• Manage the creation, tracking, and updating of Purchase Orders (POs) in a timely manner.
• Identify and resolve issues such as vendor delays, product quality, and product shortages.
• Source and evaluate vendors to ensure the best possible sourcing decisions for materials and services.
• Perform cost analysis and negotiate with suppliers to achieve cost-effective purchasing.
• Generate reports and perform basic data analysis to support purchasing decisions and process improvements.
• Utilize ERP systems to manage and track purchasing activities efficiently.
• Collaborate with inventory teams in Manitoba and Wisconsin to develop best inventory practices, SOP’s to be used at all facilities
• Support ERP/MRP implementation and ongoing maintenance for all KA Group
• Develop and implement inventory organizational standards for all KA Group
• Work closely with production planning team to ensure inventory is being created and consumed properly in ERP system
• Perform internal audits at all facilities to ensure SOP’s and standards are being followed
• Identify inventory specific KPI’s and present to management
• Facilitate inventory count
• Develop and implement cycle count schedules at all facilities
• Develop inventory stocking plan at all facilities
• Investigate and diagnose inventory consumption issues

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Good analytical skills, high level problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Leadership and team management skills
• Strong understanding of vendor sourcing and supply chain procedures.
• Ability to negotiate effectively and perform cost analysis.
• Strong research and planning abilities.
• Experience working with inventory management software
• Proficiency in creating and managing Purchase Orders (POs).
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and maintain positive supplier relationships.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• 5+ year experience in a Supply Chain role in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 2 to 3 years of experience in a manufacturing purchasing environment.
• Experience with ERP manufacturing software and task management systems.
• Experience with heavy equipment applications.
• Experience in a matrix organization.
• Prior manufacturing experience
• Inventory control/management and at least five years of experience in a similar role
• Warehouse experience
• Fluent in Microsoft Excel/Power BI
• Lean and Kaizen experience preferred
• Previous experience leading a team.
• Prior design and manufacturing experience considered an asset