Purchasing Manager

WE ARE HIRING: Purchasing Manager

Work Environment & Schedule

• On-site at American Crane & Equipment Corporation Plant 1 in Douglassville, PA
• 1st Shift: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-3:30 PM
• Office environment with regular time on the manufacturing floor coordinating with production teams
• Standard office conditions with occasional exposure to shop floor noise, temperature variations, and industrial equipment

What This Role Really Is

This isn't a transactional purchasing job where you're just placing POs and chasing confirmations. You're managing the entire procurement operation for a custom crane and hoist manufacturer - where almost nothing is off the shelf, lead times matter, and the wrong material showing up late can stall an entire project.

You'll own the purchasing function end to end: planning procurement strategy, negotiating supplier agreements, managing delivery timelines against active production schedules, and building the reporting and processes that keep the operation running without surprises. You work directly with Project Managers, Engineers, Production, and Quality every day and your actions ripple through every project on the floor.

This role reports to the Chief Financial Officer and manages the purchasing team. It's a position where supply chain discipline, commercial judgment, and the ability to build systems that work without constant intervention all matter equally.

What You'll Do

Procurement Operations & Supply Chain Management

• Plan, organize, and manage the daily operation of the purchasing department - ensuring materials are procured according to established procedures and aligned with production schedules
• Communicate with Project Managers, Engineers, and Production daily to determine key delivery dates for production and customer commitments
• Develop reporting and procedures to proactively manage delivery dates for critical components
• Ensure all purchased inventory meets quality standards and company/customer specifications
• Coordinate with Quality Assurance on incoming material inspections and supplier performance

Supplier Strategy & Cost Management

• Negotiate agreements, pricing, delivery terms, and specifications with suppliers for common components and raw materials
• Develop methods to analyze pricing trends for common components and raw materials - identifying cost increases and qualifying alternative suppliers
• Recommend and implement cost-saving proposals across the procurement function
• Ensure product costs are routinely updated and maintained in the ERP system
• Propose and manage the department budget, holding the team accountable to spending targets

Leadership & Team Development

• Manage, develop, and mentor the purchasing team to be autonomous in their decision-making
• Build procurement discipline and accountability across the department
• Work closely with the CFO in planning and implementing manufacturing strategies that align with company mission, vision, and financial goals
• Actively participate in Manufacturing department production meetings and cross-functional planning

Who Thrives Here

This role rewards someone who thinks ahead, not just reacts. The purchasing function at a custom manufacturer is inherently unpredictable - engineering changes, long-lead specialty components, fluctuating steel prices - and the person who succeeds here is the one who builds systems to manage that complexity instead of firefighting every day.

You'll do well here if you:

• Think in terms of supply chain strategy, not just individual purchase orders
• Build relationships with suppliers that create real leverage - not just transactional back-and-forth
• Can translate production priorities into procurement action without needing every detail spelled out
• Hold your team accountable while developing their skills and judgment
• Know how to use an ERP system as a management tool, not just a data entry screen
• Communicate directly with engineers, PMs, and production leadership without filtering everything through email

This probably isn't the right fit if:

• You prefer a reactive, order-taking approach to purchasing
• You're uncomfortable managing people and holding a team to standards
• You need a highly structured, repetitive procurement environment - custom manufacturing is anything but

What We're Looking For

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field
• 5+ years of purchasing/procurement experience in a manufacturing environment
• 2+ years of supervisory or team leadership experience
• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier contracts, pricing, and delivery terms
• Proficiency with ERP systems and procurement modules (Jobscope, Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is a plus)
• Strong analytical skills - able to interpret cost data, identify trends, and make data-driven sourcing decisions
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

Preferred

• Experience in heavy equipment, crane, or custom manufacturing procurement
• Familiarity with steel, electrical components, and industrial raw material supply chains
• APICS, CPSM, or similar supply chain certification
• Experience with Jobscope, Microsoft Dynamics, other ERP, PDM systems, or similar manufacturing-specific platforms
• Track record of implementing cost-reduction initiatives or supplier consolidation programs

What Success Looks Like

First 30 Days - Learn the Operation

• Complete company onboarding, safety orientation, and facility tours
• Meet your team, the CFO, Project Managers, Engineering, and Quality contacts
• Understand the current purchasing workflows, ERP system (Jobscope), and supplier base
• Review active purchase orders, open commitments, and critical delivery timelines
• Identify the top 20 suppliers by spend and begin assessing those relationships

Days 31-60 - Take Ownership

• Assume day-to-day management of the purchasing team and department operations
• Establish regular communication rhythms with Production, Engineering, and PMs on delivery priorities
• Begin developing reporting tools to proactively track delivery dates for critical components
• Identify quick-win cost savings or process improvements and start executing
• Evaluate current supplier agreements and flag renegotiation opportunities

Days 61+ - Drive Results

• Present a 6-month procurement strategy to the CFO - covering supplier optimization, cost reduction targets, and team development priorities
• Demonstrate measurable improvement in delivery tracking visibility or on-time material availability
• Have your team operating with clear expectations, accountability, and reduced dependence on you for routine decisions
• Build credibility cross-functionally as the go-to person for procurement questions and escalations
• Own the department budget and be prepared to defend spend decisions with data

What's In It for You?

• Competitive salary aligned with experience and qualifications
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance - available day one
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off with rollover each year
• 10 paid company-observed holidays
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support

What Makes This Role Stand Out

• Direct ownership of the procurement function for a custom manufacturer - your decisions shape production outcomes
• Work alongside an experienced production and engineering team that values collaboration over silos
• Stable first-shift schedule (Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-3:30 PM) with a predictable work-life rhythm
• Real authority to build and improve systems, not just maintain them

Requirements & Compliance

Employment in this position is contingent upon the ability to meet the following requirements:

• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship
• Ability to verify identity and employment authorization in compliance with Form I-9 requirements
• Eligibility to access information or technology governed by U.S. export control laws, including 10 C.F.R. Part 810, EAR, and/or ITAR, where applicable. If government authorization is required for access to controlled technology, employment or start date may be delayed or withdrawn in accordance with applicable law
• Certain positions and projects may require the ability to obtain and maintain unescorted access to nuclear facilities in compliance with NRC regulations (10 C.F.R. Parts 26 & 73)
• Willingness to undergo a background check in accordance with applicable laws
• Willingness to undergo a pre-employment drug screen and randomized drug screening during employment
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation

Full-time
On-site hours
Monday through Friday
7:00AM-3:30PM