Market Purchasing Manager

Bunzl Career • Kansas City, MO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Market Purchasing Manager oversees domestic purchasing for Bunzl Distribution’s MidCentral Market and leads a team of replenishment buyers. The role manages purchasing activities and inventory across the market, ensuring timely and accurate product acquisition and maintaining appropriate inventory levels aligned with customer demand. The position is onsite at the Kansas City, Missouri office; team members may work at that office or other offices across the region.

The manager develops inventory strategies based on forecasted demand, monitors buyer productivity and performance metrics, and works with suppliers and internal teams to improve service levels and supply chain efficiency. The role also leads process improvements, ensures purchasing compliance, and supports the department’s budgeted objectives and the division’s three-year business plan. The Market Purchasing Manager serves as a subject matter leader for ERP tools such as AS400 and Blue Yonder and may negotiate directly with vendors.

Bunzl describes itself as a global supplier serving several industries, with more than 10,000 team members and over 100 warehouses. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan with company matching, and paid time off.

Requirements

• High school diploma required.
• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred; significant industry experience of 10 or more years may substitute for a degree, particularly in manufacturing or distribution.
• At least 5 years of purchasing experience, preferably in a distribution environment.
• Deep knowledge of supply chain principles, including replenishment purchasing, freight, and warehousing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong analytical skills using Microsoft Excel and reporting tools such as Microsoft Power BI.
• Managerial-level planning, execution, and time-management skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to craft targeted messages.

Nice To Haves

• Previous supervisory experience, particularly developing a high-performing team.
• Industry certificates or certifications, such as those from ASCM or ISM.
• At least 2 years of Blue Yonder experience, or experience with other leading ERP platforms such as AS400, SAP, or Oracle.
• Bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

• Supervise replenishment buyers, including recruiting, selection, training, performance management, and development planning.
• Oversee and execute domestic purchasing and manage inventory across the market.
• Develop and implement inventory strategies based on forecasted demand to optimize stock levels across multiple distribution centers and minimize excess inventory and stockouts.
• Monitor buyer productivity and KPIs, including volume, value, fill rate, turns, and overstock.
• Identify, evaluate, and establish relationships with suppliers and vendors.
• Monitor supplier performance and resolve quality, delivery, or pricing issues in a timely manner.
• Work with Sales, Sourcing, Customer Service, Operations, and Accounting to optimize purchasing, new product launches, and product life-cycle changes.
• Prepare and present reports on inventory performance, inventory levels, and key performance metrics.
• Mentor and develop team members and foster a high-performance team environment.
• Drive continuous improvement and ensure best practices are followed within the team.
• Lead initiatives to streamline procurement processes, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen supplier relationships.
• Collaborate with leadership on long-term strategies that support business growth and objectives.
• Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, industry regulations, and applicable legal requirements.
• Communicate effectively across sales, demand planning, replenishment purchasing, and operations to meet needs on time and as expected.
• Deliver the department’s budgeted metrics and objectives in alignment with the division’s three-year business plan.
• Maintain conformance to category management guidelines or demand plans, including use of preferred vendors and products in buying decisions.
• Manage inventory balance according to ordering characteristics and aged inventory profile.
• Maintain vendor relationships, including service levels and On Time and In Full performance.
• Identify and capture opportunities for one-time PBIT improvements.
• Serve as the functional expert and subject matter leader for ERP tools such as AS400 and Blue Yonder.
• Transition routinely purchased items to an A/B/C/D priority purchasing model and associated stocking parameters.
• Negotiate directly with vendors as needed to reach purchasing decisions.

Benefits

• Medical insurance for employees and eligible dependents, available starting the first day of the month after 30 days of employment unless otherwise specified by a collective bargaining agreement.
• Dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents, available starting the first day of the month after 30 days of employment unless otherwise specified by a collective bargaining agreement.
• Vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents, available starting the first day of the month after 30 days of employment unless otherwise specified by a collective bargaining agreement.
• Life insurance for employees and eligible dependents, available starting the first day of the month after 30 days of employment unless otherwise specified by a collective bargaining agreement.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match of $0.75 per $1.00 contributed, up to 6% of eligible pay, available after 30 days.
• Paid time off

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED