Job Description

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Establish and maintain primary and alternate sources of supply to meet operational, production, and project requirements.

• Obtain quotations, prepare and analyze RFQs, and award purchase orders based on price, quality, delivery, service, and supplier performance.

• Negotiate pricing, contracts, terms and conditions, and supplier agreements.

• Evaluate suppliers' technical, operational, financial, and quality capabilities to mitigate business risk.

• Maintain supplier relationships and monitor supplier performance metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.

• Contact suppliers regarding new products, technologies, and cost reduction opportunities.

• Perform purchase order follow-up and expediting activities to ensure delivery commitments are met.

• Negotiate settlements related to rejected, damaged, or non-conforming materials when appropriate.

• Support Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs and supplier inventory initiatives.

• Maintain auditable purchasing records consistent with company policies and procedures.

Planning & Material Management

• Review material requirements and MRP action messages daily.

• Release purchase orders and execute planning actions required to support engineering and production schedules.

• Monitor inventory levels and ensure adequate supply of materials to support production and customer requirements.

• Schedule and coordinate procurement and delivery of materials and assemblies.

• Identify, communicate, and resolve material shortages and supply constraints.

• Provide daily shortage status and expedite updates to manufacturing and operations teams.

• Perform material reconciliation activities and coordinate returns to inventory when appropriate.

• Review and disposition excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.

• Maintain ERP system accuracy related to planning, procurement, inventory, and supplier transactions.

Production, Engineering & NPI Support

• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), R\&D, and sustaining production programs.

• Work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Accounting, and Program Management to meet project objectives and timelines.

• Manage Engineering Change Notices (ECNs) and evaluate material impact, inventory exposure, and procurement requirements.

• Interpret engineering changes and update planning activities accordingly.

• Participate in NPI, ECO, MRB, and cross-functional project meetings.

• Coordinate procurement activities to support prototype builds, engineering development, and production launches.

• Assist in developing and implementing purchasing and planning policies, procedures, and best practices.

Quality & Problem Resolution

• Monitor and resolve invoice discrepancies and receiving issues.

• Support processing of non-conforming material requests, Quality Incident Reports (QIDs),

• Return Material Authorizations (RMAs), and Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCARs).

• Review discrepant materials and participate in Material Review Board (MRB) activities.

• Work with suppliers and internal teams to resolve production, quality, and supply chain issues affecting schedules and customer commitments.

• Prepare reports and communicate material and supply chain risks to management and stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain complete status records, reports, and documentation.

• Support continuous improvement

• Travel to supplier locations and company facilities as needed (up to 10%).

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• APICS/ASCM Certification (CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of purchasing, planning, and materials management experience in a manufacturing environment.

• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering, and production operations preferred.

• Experience with contract manufacturing, electro-mechanical products, PCBAs, cable assemblies, or custom manufacturing environments preferred.

• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and supply chain processes.

Skills & Technical Requirements

• Previous experience with ERP/MRP systems such as Oracle, SAP, Syspro, or equivalent.

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong negotiation and supplier relationship management skills.

• Knowledge of inventory management and production planning principles.

• Ability to maintain ethical and professional supplier relationships.

• Detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.

Working Conditions

• Office and manufacturing environment.

• Occasional travel up to 10% as business needs require.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.

• Frequent computer and keyboard use.

• Ability to move throughout office and production areas as necessary.