Manager, Purchasing

Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries•Murrieta, CA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading and managing the day-to-day purchasing function in support of production, quality, inventory, cost, and operational objectives. This position provides leadership and direction to the purchasing team while ensuring materials, services, MRO, supplies, and outside processing are procured at the required quality, cost, and delivery expectations. The Purchasing Manager is responsible for supplier performance, purchasing execution, team development, purchasing controls, KPI management, supplier escalations, cost improvement initiatives, and continuous improvement of procurement processes. This role serves as a key liaison between Purchasing, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Finance, Materials, and Supply Chain leadership to proactively identify supply risks and support business requirements.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.
Previous experience leading, supervising, or managing purchasing personnel.
Strong understanding of production purchasing, MRP-driven procurement, MRO, supplies, services, and outside processing.
Demonstrated experience managing supplier delivery, pricing, performance, and escalations.
Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, purchasing reports, purchase orders, and supplier data.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, bills of material, specifications, and technical purchasing requirements.
Strong analytical, organizational, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, and work independently.
Ability to demonstrate a high degree of professionalism, maturity, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Minimum five years of progressively responsible purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides direct leadership and functional oversight to Buyers I, Buyers II, and purchasing support personnel responsible for production materials, MRO, supplies, outside processing, supplier data, and purchasing administration.
Ensures the purchasing team executes established supply chain strategies while maintaining appropriate controls, supplier accountability, and alignment with production requirements.
Leads, coaches, develops, and provides daily direction to the purchasing team.
Establishes priorities and balances buyer workloads based on production requirements, material shortages, supplier risks, and business needs.
Establishes clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards for the purchasing team.
Provides backup coverage and purchasing support as necessary to maintain continuity of operations.
Serves as the primary escalation point for purchasing, supplier, delivery, pricing, and internal procurement issues.
Supports employee development, cross-training, succession planning, and continuous improvement within the purchasing organization.
Ensures purchase orders are placed accurately and timely in accordance with production requirements, demand, approved requisitions, and company procedures.
Monitors open purchase orders, supplier commitments, past-due orders, shortages, and delivery risks.
Ensures buyers proactively communicate supplier delays and material constraints before they impact production.
Oversees procurement of production materials, MRO, supplies, services, and outside processing.
Ensures purchasing activities align with inventory objectives and required production lead times.
Supports material shortage resolution and recovery planning.
Manages supplier performance related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, cost, and overall service.
Partners with Quality and Supply Chain Manager to address supplier performance concerns and corrective actions.
Supports supplier business reviews, scorecards, audits, and supplier development activities.
Maintains appropriate supplier relationships and ensures timely escalation of significant supply risks.
Supports qualification, evaluation, and onboarding of new suppliers.
Identifies sourcing risks, capacity constraints, sole-source exposure, and other potential supply interruptions.
Supports pricing visibility, purchase price analysis, and cost-control initiatives.
Identifies opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance, supplier consolidation, and improved commercial terms.
Supports supplier negotiations involving pricing, lead times, payment terms, minimum order quantities, freight, and other commercial conditions.
Monitors significant commodity, supplier, and market changes that may affect purchasing costs or availability.
Assists Supply Chain leadership with sourcing strategies and supplier negotiations.
Establishes, monitors, and reports purchasing performance metrics.
Tracks supplier on-time delivery, purchasing execution, material shortages, cost savings, and other key procurement indicators.
Reviews purchasing trends and identifies areas requiring corrective action.
Holds buyers and suppliers accountable for agreed performance expectations.
Provides regular purchasing status and risk updates to Supply Chain leadership.
Ensures compliance with company purchasing policies, procedures, work instructions, approval requirements, and internal controls.
Maintains accurate purchasing records and documentation in support of ISO, JSOX, internal, and external audit requirements.
Oversees purchasing logs, supplier records, purchasing reports, and vendor master data.
Maintains accuracy and integrity of the vendor database.
Identifies opportunities to improve purchasing efficiency, accuracy, cycle time, reporting, and workflow.
Partners with Planning to align purchasing priorities with manufacturing schedules.
Works closely with Engineering on drawings, bills of material, specifications, substitutions, and technical requirements.
Supports Finance with pricing, invoice, supplier, and purchase order discrepancies when needed.
Communicates supply risks and recommends actions to Supply Chain leadership and other stakeholders.
Directly supervises purchasing personnel and is responsible for assigning work, establishing priorities, coaching employees, providing performance feedback, supporting employee development, and ensuring purchasing objectives are achieved.
Promotes accountability, teamwork, professionalism, proactive communication, and continuous improvement throughout the purchasing organization.