Description

Job Summary

The Purchasing Manager will oversee the procurement of all raw materials, supplies, and equipment necessary for manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for developing strategic sourcing plans, managing supplier relationships, and leading a team to optimize cost, quality, and delivery performance. MDC Precision is a Low-Volume, High-Mix (LVHM) manufacturing environment, the Purchasing Manager is responsible for managing extreme complexity of parts.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation:

· Supplier Selection: Identify, evaluate, and qualify new vendors based on reliability, quality standards, and price.

· Contract Management: Negotiate long-term supply agreements and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to secure favorable terms and mitigate price volatility.

· Cost Reduction: Implement cost-saving initiatives and "make vs. buy" analyses to improve the company's bottom line.

Strategic Supplier Partnerships:

· Niche Vendor Management: Build a network of highly flexible, local, or specialized suppliers who can pivot quickly when production designs change.

· Risk Mitigation: Since many parts may be "single-sourced" due to their unique nature, you must develop robust contingency plans for critical components.

Production & Inventory Support:

· Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Work closely with Production Planning to ensure material availability aligns with production schedules.

· Inventory Control: Monitor stock levels to prevent overstocking or stockouts, utilizing JIT (Just-in-Time) or Lean manufacturing principles.

· Quality Assurance: Collaborate with the Quality department to address non-conforming materials and manage the Supplier Corrective Action Request (SCAR) process.

Operational Leadership:

· Team Management: Supervise, train, and mentor a team of buyers and purchasing agents.

· KPI Tracking: Monitor and report on key metrics such as Price Variance (PPV), Supplier On-Time Delivery (OTD), and Lead Time accuracy.

· Compliance: Ensure all purchasing activities comply with industry regulations and internal auditing standards.

Requirements

Requirements

Required Skills & Qualifications 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or Engineering.

Experience: 5+ years of procurement experience, specifically within a manufacturing environment (e.g., automotive, aerospace, electronics).

Technical Skills: Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and advanced Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables).

Certifications: APICS (CSCP/CPIM) or ISM (CPSM) certifications are highly preferred.

Soft Skills: Strong negotiation tactics, analytical problem-solving, and the ability to work under pressure during supply chain disruptions.