Parts Purchasing Manager

Position Summary

The Parts Purchasing Manager is responsible for supporting parts purchasing, supplier relationships, inventory control, and purchasing processes across the McCandless Truck Center network. This role plays a key part in maintaining strong fill rate, controlling inventory levels, reducing excess stock, and supporting branch operations.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier and Vendor Management

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to support a reliable supply chain.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, freight programs, and vendor support when applicable.
• Monitor vendor performance, including fill rate, lead times, backorders, pricing accuracy, and issue resolution.
• Support vendor consolidation by identifying approved vendors that should be part of the “MTC Program.”
• Work with vendors on returns, stock adjustments, product swaps, aging inventory, and quality concerns.

Inventory Control and Purchasing

• Monitor inventory levels to ensure parts are available when needed while minimizing excess and obsolete stock.
• Review and maintain min/max settings based on demand, sales history, lead times, and branch needs.
• Support company fill rate goals through accurate and intentional stocking decisions.
• Review inventory turns, days’ supply, overstock, lost sales, and demand trends to guide purchasing decisions.
• Identify aged, dead, or excess inventory and help create plans to sell, return, transfer, or reduce exposure.
• Place and manage purchase orders based on demand, inventory levels, supplier programs, and operational needs.

Purchase Order and Data Management

• Review and clean up open purchase orders to ensure accurate records and timely follow-through.
• Resolve PO discrepancies, backorders, pricing issues, freight concerns, and supplier delays.
• Maintain accurate supplier, cost, inventory, and part record data in company systems.
• Use purchasing reports and system recommendations to make informed buying decisions.
• Generate reports to support purchasing decisions, vendor performance, inventory reviews, and financial analysis.

Cost Control and Profitability

• Analyze parts costs, vendor pricing, freight, rebates, and purchasing programs to identify savings opportunities.
• Support margin improvement through better sourcing, vendor negotiations, and program compliance.
• Review cost changes and supplier programs to ensure purchasing decisions protect profitability.
• Reduce unnecessary stock duplication, emergency freight, and carrying costs where possible.

Cross Department Support

• Work closely with parts managers, service, body shop, sales, PSSR teams, warehouse, dispatch, accounting, and leadership.
• Support branch operations by helping ensure the right parts are available at the right time.
• Communicate supply issues, stocking changes, vendor concerns, and purchasing decisions clearly.
• Partner with sales and PSSR teams to identify all-makes opportunities, customer demand, lost sales, and stocking gaps.
• Support new branch openings, inventory builds, and operational readiness.

Process Improvement and Accountability

• Continuously evaluate purchasing processes to improve speed, accuracy, consistency, and accountability.
• Support standard purchasing procedures across the network.
• Help enforce discipline around min/max, purchase orders, transfers, returns, vendor programs, and inventory controls.
• Take ownership of problems through resolution instead of allowing issues to sit unresolved.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and customer relations skills.
• Strong math, reading comprehension, and analytical skills.
• Purchasing, inventory control, warehouse, parts, or supply chain experience preferred.
• General understanding of distribution center, warehouse, and branch operations.
• Ability to analyze reports, inventory data, purchasing trends, and supplier performance.
• Computer-literate with the ability to learn and become proficient in company software systems.
• Ability to work with multiple departments and branch locations in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. and work at heights of 25 feet or more when needed.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record (this is safety sensitive position if forklift certified)
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Heavy-duty truck, bus, automotive, dealership, or parts distribution experience
• Excel and Power BI Proficiency
• Experience with min/max inventory management.
• Experience managing open purchase orders and follow-up with vendors.
• Understanding of fill rate, inventory turns, days’ supply, obsolescence, lost sales, and stock replenishment.
• Experience working with vendors, pricing programs, rebates, returns, and supplier performance.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions using both data and operational knowledge.

What MTC Offers

MTC is a family-owned company that cares about its people, customers, and long-term success. We offer competitive wages, paid time off, paid holidays, full health benefits, and a 401k match. We value commitment, compassion, hard work, accountability, and a desire for each other to succeed. No matter what your experience level is when you join us, our goal is to help you grow, develop, and build a long-term career with MTC.