Purchasing Manager

Lummus Group•Savannah, GA

50d

About The Position

Role Overview: The Purchasing Manager leads and manages procurement activities in support of manufacturing operations, aftermarket services, and equipment-based projects. This role ensures the timely, cost-effective, compliant, and high-quality acquisition of materials, components, equipment, and services to meet production schedules and customer commitments. The Purchasing Manager provides strategic sourcing leadership while remaining engaged in day-to-day execution. This position supervises Buyers or Purchasing Specialists and plays a key role in supplier performance management, cost control, inventory alignment, and supply chain risk mitigation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field preferred
7+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management
Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing vendor performance
Working knowledge of inventory management and production support processes
Experience with ERP systems (preferably Infor or comparable platforms)
Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, or APICS (CPIM/CSCP)
Experience managing international suppliers
Background in cost modeling, value engineering, and supplier development
Experience leading procurement transformation or system implementation initiatives

Responsibilities

Develop and implement purchasing strategies aligned with production goals, financial objectives, and long-term business plans
Lead end-to-end sourcing for direct and indirect materials, MRO supplies, capital equipment, and services
Negotiate pricing, contracts, terms, and long-term agreements to optimize total cost of ownership (TCO)
Drive cost-reduction initiatives through competitive bidding, value engineering, supplier consolidation, and market analysis
Monitor commodity trends and market conditions to proactively manage cost and supply risk
Serve as escalation point for critical supplier shortages, pricing disputes, or contractual issues
Source, evaluate, qualify, and onboard suppliers based on quality, pricing, delivery, financial stability, and capacity
Establish strategic supplier partnerships to improve reliability, innovation, and responsiveness
Implement supplier performance scorecards measuring KPIs
Conduct regular supplier business reviews and address performance gaps
Develop dual-sourcing and contingency strategies to mitigate supply chain disruptions
Collaborate with operations, planning, and distribution teams to ensure appropriate inventory levels and material availability
Support demand forecasting and material planning processes
Partner with finance to manage purchasing budgets and track cost savings initiatives
Identify opportunities to reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory
Analyze spend data to identify consolidation and cost optimization opportunities
Serve as the primary procurement liaison for Engineering, Production, Quality, Distribution, and Project Management teams
Support new product introductions by sourcing components and ensuring supplier readiness
Provide input on lead times, material constraints, and cost impacts during project planning
Coordinate with planning and logistics to align purchasing decisions with transportation and delivery requirements
Provide day-to-day leadership, mentoring, and workload coordination for Buyers and Purchasing Specialists
Review purchase orders, contracts, and sourcing decisions for accuracy and compliance
Support hiring, onboarding, and training of procurement team members
Establish performance goals and provide ongoing feedback and development planning
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Ensure accurate and timely data entry and maintenance in ERP and procurement systems
Develop and analyze purchasing metrics, including spend analysis, supplier performance, cost savings, and purchase price variance
Implement process improvements to increase efficiency, compliance, and visibility across procurement activities
Lead or support digital transformation initiatives related to procurement systems and reporting tools
Standardize procurement policies and procedures to enhance governance and internal controls