5+ years in purchasing, inventory management, or supply chain in manufacturing
Proven supplier management and negotiation skills
Experience with inventory planning and demand forecasting
Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Office applications
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Responsibilities
Lead procurement of materials essential for production
Negotiate contracts and pricing to enhance margins
Monitor and evaluate supplier performance
Build strong supplier relationships and explore alternative sourcing
Research market trends affecting material costs and availability
Optimize inventory levels and reduce excess stock
Collaborate with various departments to ensure material availability
Benefits
Opportunity to shape purchasing strategy and inventory performance
Collaborative work environment with cross-departmental interaction
Direct impact on profitability and operational success
Role in improving supplier relationships and material availability
Involvement in cost-saving initiatives and financial analysis
Full Job Description
Position Overview
The Purchasing and Inventory Manager ensures the availability of materials needed to support production while improving profitability, inventory performance, and supplier reliability. This position oversees purchasing and inventory planning for raw materials, components, and packaging. The successful candidate will identify cost-saving opportunities, improve inventory turns, reduce working capital tied up in inventory, and support the company's financial and operational goals.
Key Responsibilities
Purchasing and Supplier Management
Lead the procurement of plastic resins, recycled materials, components, packaging, and other materials required for production.
Negotiate pricing, contracts, payment terms, lead times, and supply agreements to improve margins and cash flow.
Monitor supplier performance related to cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while identifying opportunities for alternative sourcing and improved terms.
Research market conditions, pricing trends, supply risks, and other economic developments that may affect material availability or cost.
Identify and implement cost-reduction and sourcing improvement initiatives.
Address supplier performance concerns and coordinate corrective actions when necessary.
Inventory Management and Planning
Optimize inventory levels, safety stock, reorder points, and purchasing quantities to improve inventory turns while maintaining appropriate service levels.
Monitor material requirements, inventory balances, production schedules, forecasts, and open purchase orders.
Reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.
Identify inventory discrepancies, determine root causes, and coordinate corrective action.
Maintain accurate purchasing and inventory information within the company's ERP/MRP system.
Review purchasing and inventory reports to identify shortages, excess inventory, cost variances, and improvement opportunities.
Support inventory audits, cycle counts, and reconciliation activities as needed.
Operational and Financial Support
Partner with Operations, Materials, Quality, Finance, Sales, Logistics, and other departments to ensure material availability and prevent production disruptions.
Improve planning, forecasting, and supplier collaboration to reduce working capital requirements.
Track procurement and inventory performance against established goals and key performance indicators.
Provide regular updates regarding material availability, supplier performance, cost-saving initiatives, and inventory risks.
Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis related to purchasing and inventory.
Perform general clerical and administrative responsibilities, including data entry, maintaining purchasing and supplier records, preparing routine reports, processing documentation, and organizing procurement files.
Perform other duties and support special projects as assigned.
Qualifications
Required
Five or more years of purchasing, inventory management, procurement, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience managing suppliers, negotiating terms, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
Experience with inventory planning, demand forecasting, safety stock, and reorder-point management.
Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and purchasing processes.
Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to evaluate data, identify trends, and make sound business decisions.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
Preferred
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Finance, or a related field.
Experience purchasing plastic resins, recycled materials, packaging, or other materials used in plastics manufacturing.
Experience supporting multiple manufacturing locations or business units.
Professional certification in purchasing, supply chain, or inventory management.
Success in This Role
Success will be measured through improvements in:
Inventory turns
Working capital reduction
Material cost savings
Supplier on-time delivery
Material availability
Excess and obsolete inventory reduction
Purchasing and inventory accuracy
EBITDA improvement generated through procurement initiatives
Why Join Schaefer Plastics?
This newly created position offers the opportunity to directly influence purchasing strategy, inventory performance, supplier relationships, profitability, and operational success. You will work closely with leaders across the organization and play an important role in ensuring the right materials are available at the right time, at the best total cost, and with the least amount of capital invested.
