We presently have a full-time position at our Elkmont, Alabama manufacturing plant for a Materials and Purchasing Manager. This position reports directly to the Plant Manager and is on-site.
The Materials and Purchasing Manager is responsible for ensuring uninterrupted material flow to support the manufacturing operations while optimizing inventory levels, supplier performance, and procurement costs. This role leads purchasing, materials planning, inventory control, and supplier management activities to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Purchasing and Supplier Management
- Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with business objectives
- Source, negotiate, and manage supplier agreements and contracts
- Evaluate supplier performance on quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness
- Lead supplier development and corrective action initiatives
- Identify cost reduction and continuous improvement opportunities
Materials Planning and Inventory Management
- Ensure material availability to support the production schedules
- Manage the MRP/ERP planning processes and inventory accuracy
- Establish inventory targets and monitor inventory turns
- Reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory
- Coordinate cycle counts and physical inventory activities
- Supervise the shipping and receiving activities
Operations Support
- Collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Finance teams
- Support new product introductions and engineering change management
- Resolve material shortages and supply chain disruptions
- Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply risks
Team Leadership
- Lead and develop purchasing and materials personnel
- Establish department goals, KPI's, and performance metrics
- Coach team members and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
- Support succession planning and associate development
Reporting and Compliance
- Monitor purchasing spend and budget performance
- Ensure compliance with company policies and procurement procedures
- Prepare and present supply chain performance reports to leadership
- Maintain compliance with applicable quality and regulatory requirements
Qualifications
Qualifications
Education
- A Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field
- MBA or advanced degree is preferred
Experience
- 5 + years of purchasing, materials management or supply chain leadership experience
- Manufacturing environment experience is required
- Experience managing suppliers and contract negotiations
- Previous supervisory or management experience is preferred
Technical Skills
- Strong ERP/MRP systems experience (Infor LN, SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, etc.).
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data analysis, including Power BI
- Inventory management and demand planning experience
- Understanding of procurement and supply chain best practices
Leadership Competencies
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Results-oriented with strong organizational skills
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Supplier On-Time Delivery (%)
- Inventory Turns
- Material Shortage Incidents
- Purchase Price Variance (PPV)
- Inventory Accuracy
- Supplier Quality Performance (PPM)
- Cost Savings Achievement
- Production Schedule Attainment
Preferred Certifications
- APICS CPIM
- APICS CSCP
- CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management)
- Lean Manufacturing Certification
- Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
