Supply Chain Manager

Position Summary

The Supply Chain Manager will lead and oversee the end-to-end supply chain process at Barry E. Walter Sr. Co.—from raw material procurement and vendor relations to production planning, inventory management, and logistics. This is a newly created role designed to bring structure, strategy, and efficiency to our rapidly growing operations.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on problem solver who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and understands how to balance cost control, quality, and availability. This position offers a chance to shape and build the supply chain function in a company where your work directly impacts customer satisfaction and company growth.

The Supply Chain Manager will also work closely with the Director of Operations and company leadership to ensure sourcing strategies, production planning, and logistics are fully aligned with overall business goals.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Take ownership of procurement for the company’s largest spend categories: raw materials, imported inventory items, and key components used in parts and tools.
• Oversee purchasing of overseas inventory, managing long lead times and working closely with leadership to balance cash flow, stocking levels, and customer needs.
• Negotiate with suppliers to achieve the right mix of cost savings, quality, and reliability while building strong, long-term relationships.
• Partner with the Quality Control Team to confirm incoming raw material and components meet specifications before they enter production.
• Monitor supplier performance and hold vendors accountable for on-time delivery, responsiveness, and consistency.
• Continuously evaluate and qualify alternative suppliers, both domestic and international, to reduce risk and maintain supply chain resilience.

Production & Inventory Planning

• Collaborate with the Primary Operations and Warehouse teams to align material availability with production schedules.
• Work closely with the Director of Operations and machinists on the MRP/ERP schedule board system to ensure machine time is prioritized correctly and supported with the right materials.
• Implement demand forecasting and inventory planning processes to maintain optimal stock levels, minimizing shortages and excess.
• Establish and manage reorder points, safety stock, and min/max levels, with special focus on long-lead-time imported items.
• Monitor inventory turnover and address slow-moving or obsolete SKUs in collaboration with sales and leadership.
• Support new product launches by ensuring materials and production capacity are in place ahead of demand.

Logistics & Distribution

• Oversee inbound freight for raw materials, imported inventory, and components, as well as outbound shipments to customers.
• Work with carriers and our negotiated freight programs to optimize cost, speed, and reliability.
• Partner with freight forwarder vendors to manage overseas shipments, ensuring proper documentation, tariffs, and customs compliance while also driving cost savings.
• Evaluate opportunities to reduce costs through palletizing efficiencies, consolidated shipments across multiple overseas vendors, and freight route optimization.
• Hold freight forwarders accountable for performance, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in managing international shipments.
• Track and analyze landed costs (materials, freight, duties, and fees) to ensure product pricing aligns with company profitability goals.
• Collaborate with the Warehouse Team to identify opportunities for improving efficiency in shipping, receiving, and order fulfillment.
• Meet regularly with freight partners (UPS and FedEx) to review contracts, analyze shipping charges, and ensure our shipping programs remain cost-effective and profitable.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Use the company’s ERP/MRP system as a central tool for purchasing, planning, scheduling, and inventory management.
• Serve as a power user of the system, evaluating how it is used across teams and making recommendations for improvements or added functionality.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop dashboards and reporting tools that provide clear visibility into supply chain performance.
• Establish and track KPIs such as on-time delivery, fill rates, inventory turns, freight costs, and supplier performance.
• Identify gaps or inefficiencies in current workflows and lead projects to improve speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the company, applying lean principles where appropriate.
• Provide data-driven insights to leadership on supply chain performance, cost savings, and opportunities for improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Operations and leadership team to align supply chain strategies with overall business goals.
• Partner with the Sales and Customer Service teams to provide visibility into inventory levels, lead times, and freight options so customer expectations are met.
• Support the Product Development team by ensuring materials, suppliers, and logistics are in place for new product launches.
• Collaborate with the Quality Control team to ensure supplier and component quality supports smooth production flow.
• Provide supply chain insights that help leadership make informed decisions on pricing, stocking strategies, and customer programs.
• Support promotions and special programs by ensuring product availability and coordinating with warehouse and logistics teams to meet customer demand.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Distribution, Business, Operations, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in supply chain, purchasing, or operations, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial distribution environment.
• Strong knowledge of procurement, inventory control, logistics, and production planning.
• Familiarity with managing imported products and overseas vendors, including long lead times and freight forwarding.
• Hands-on experience using an ERP/MRP system for purchasing, planning, and reporting.
• Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, small-business environment with broad, hands-on responsibilities.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with plumbing repair parts, MRO products, or industrial components.
• Lean/continuous improvement experience.
• Strong data analysis and advanced Excel skills.
• Leadership or project management experience with cross-functional teams.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $63,168.02 - $88,116.34 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person