Manager, Purchasing

Wabtec Corporation•Germantown, MD

43d•$95,800 - $126,900

About The Position

The Procurement and Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing the strategic sourcing of materials and services, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring efficient planning and inventory control to meet production and operational goals. This role plays a critical part in optimizing costs, improving supply chain reliability, and supporting overall business objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or related field (Master's preferred).
5+ years of experience in inventory management, production control and planning (preferably in a manufacturing environment).
Strong negotiation, analytical, project management skills and familiarity with global sourcing and logistics.
Ability to effectively manage and resolve changing and conflicting priorities appropriately.
High level of proficiency with all Microsoft Office applications, i.e. Excel, PPT, Word, creating pivot tables, VLookups etc.)
Excellent communication and leadership abilities with a passion for implementing innovative solutions and process improvement (six sigma, lean initiatives, etc.).
Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite).
Certification in supply chain (e.g., APICS, CPM, CPSM preferred).

Responsibilities

Supervise, develop and drive continuous improvement initiatives across procurement and planning staff.
Lead the fulfillment team in material delivery and supply needs. Drive to improve OTD, material availability, reduce late PO's and oversee all PO management.
Report on KPIs such as cost savings, supplier performance, and inventory turnover.
Source and negotiate with suppliers to secure advantageous terms while managing supplier performance, contracts and compliance.
Collaborate with finance and legal teams on procurement policies and risk mitigation while monitoring market trends and identifying opportunities for cost savings.
Lead demand forecasting and production planning activities. Proactively look at future demand, identifying potential issues and ensuring material availability to meet production schedules.
Coordinate with manufacturing, logistics, and sales teams to align plans while optimizing inventory levels to balance cost and services levels.
Develop, support, and implement cross functional and strategic initiatives that align with company goals.
Utilize ERP systems to manage planning and procurement workflows.