We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Agent to join our manufacturing team. This position will be responsible for purchasing raw materials while managing domestic and international suppliers, inventory requirements, and purchasing forecasts.
The ideal candidate has hands-on experience working in a manufacturing environment and understands the importance of maintaining proper inventory levels, controlling costs, managing lead times, and ensuring materials arrive on schedule to support production.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage purchasing of raw materials, components, hardware, packaging, and finished goods.
- Create and manage purchase orders from placement through delivery.
- Work directly with domestic and international suppliers.
- Manage imports and overseas purchasing, including lead times, freight coordination, shipping documents, and delivery schedules.
- Develop purchasing forecasts based on historical sales, current demand, inventory levels, production requirements, and expected - growth.
- Maintain proper inventory levels while preventing both shortages and excess inventory.
- Review open purchase orders and proactively address late or at-risk shipments.
- Coordinate with production, sales, warehouse, engineering, and management to anticipate material requirements.
- Negotiate supplier pricing, payment terms, minimum order quantities, and lead times.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing quality or delivery performance.
- Source and qualify new suppliers when necessary.
- Monitor supplier performance for quality, pricing, lead time, and on-time delivery.
- Maintain accurate purchasing, pricing, supplier, and inventory records.
- Assist with new product launches by forecasting and purchasing required components.
- Create and Manage BOMS
Qualifications
- 5+ years of purchasing or procurement experience preferred.
- Experience working for a manufacturing company strongly preferred.
- Experience purchasing from international/overseas suppliers required or strongly preferred.
- Understanding of importing, international freight, lead times, and supply-chain planning.
- Strong experience with inventory forecasting and demand planning.
- Ability to analyze sales history, inventory usage, lead times, and future demand.
- Strong negotiation and supplier-management skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Comfortable managing multiple suppliers, purchase orders, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience with ERP, MRP, or inventory-management software preferred.
- Ability to communicate effectively with vendors and internal departments.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for someone who does more than simply place purchase orders. The right candidate will take ownership of purchasing and inventory planning, anticipate future needs, identify potential shortages before they happen, and make sound purchasing decisions based on data.
You should be comfortable balancing inventory availability, cash flow, supplier lead times, production requirements, and sales forecasts while working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.