Purchasing Agent (Manufacturing Division)

Suburban Enterprises•Appleton, WI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Purchasing Agent (Manufacturing Division) executes day-to-day procurement of raw materials, components, and supplies to keep production running on schedule, while managing inventory levels to avoid both stockouts and excess carrying costs. The ideal candidate is happy where he/she is currently employed but is interested in a more self-directed work environment, increased responsibility, and the opportunity to grow into additional roles. We would like to hire someone interested in a career, not a job, who wants to do the work and be recognized for a job well done!

Requirements

3+ years purchasing or buying experience in a manufacturing environment
Experience with inventory management and ERP/MRP systems
Familiarity with production scheduling and demand forecasting
Strong vendor relationship and negotiation skills at the transactional level
Comfortable working closely with production/operations teams
Comfortable holding peers and direct reports accountable to metrics; can use coaching, feedback and discipline effectively
Proven ability building performance metrics and supporting a strong culture between field and office.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, or operations management — preferred, or equivalent working experience

Responsibilities

Issue purchase orders for raw materials and components based on production schedules
Source and price materials to support manufacturing demand
Monitor supplier lead times and adjust order timing to avoid production delays
Support new product introduction sourcing as needed
Maintain min/max inventory levels and reorder points
Conduct or support cycle counts and inventory accuracy checks
Manage aging and obsolete inventory and coordinate disposition
Reconcile inventory records within the system
Place and track orders with approved manufacturing suppliers
Verify pricing against budgeted or standard cost before issuing POs
Flag price discrepancies or supply chain risks to the Purchasing Manager
Partner with Production and Operations on demand forecasts and schedule changes
Communicate material availability and delays proactively
Support production planning meetings with material status updates
Coordinate with the Purchasing team on PO documentation
Create standard processes for PO issuance and approval routing, inventory replenishment and cycle counts, and supplier delivery tracking
Ensure smooth transition from production plan → material procurement and inventory availability, so production is never delayed by material shortages