Purchasing Manager

Storyteller Overland•Birmingham, AL

23h•Onsite

About The Position

As a Purchasing Manager, you will assist in the daily operations of Storyteller’s procurement team. You will take full ownership of the procurement team, vendor relationships, inventory ordering, tracking, and challenges and see them through to resolution as they are your own all while being an exceptional team player and a superior brand ambassador of our reputation within our vibrant community of vanlifers, adventure seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Please note that this is a working manager position. You will be leading and doing departmental work.

Requirements

Netsuite ERP experience a plus
buying experience
supply chain management
MS Office or G Suite familiarity
aptitude for learning new things quickly
high level of attention to detail
good problem solver
solid data entry practices
strong communication skills
active listener
juggler of many tasks simultaneously well
patient
emotionally intelligent
strong relationship builder
Experience partnering with vendors/suppliers
Proven track record of working in a fast-paced, high-stress position that requires high levels of attention to detail

Nice To Haves

6+ years of supply chain experience a plus
6+ years of manufacturing inventory management a plus
Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree a plus

Responsibilities

Lead the day-to-day purchasing function while actively participating in procurement activities, including issuing purchase orders, expediting materials, preventing and/or resolving shortages, and supporting production schedules.
Manage the procurement team by coaching, developing, and holding team members accountable for service levels, supplier performance, and operational excellence.
Issue, manage, and prioritize purchase orders based on production schedules, demand forecasts, inventory levels, and supplier lead times to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
Utilize the Company's ERP system to monitor inventory levels, analyze purchasing trends, and continuously improve procurement accuracy, inventory health, and data integrity.
Build and maintain strategic relationships with suppliers, negotiating pricing, contracts, lead times, payment terms, and service levels to optimize total cost of ownership.
Proactively monitor supplier performance, order status, and material availability, identifying and resolving potential disruptions before they impact production.
Develop contingency plans and alternative sourcing strategies to minimize supply chain risk and improve business continuity.
Partner closely with Production, Warehouse, Engineering, Quality, and Product Development teams to ensure materials are available to support production, new product launches, engineering changes, and prototype builds.
Evaluate supplier quality, delivery performance, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness, implementing corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
Monitor inventory turnover, safety stock levels, obsolete inventory, and purchasing metrics to balance product availability with working capital objectives.
Support physical inventory counts, cycle counts, inventory audits, and material reconciliation activities while maintaining a hands-on presence within the warehouse and manufacturing environment.
Develop and maintain procurement policies, supplier documentation, purchasing records, and reporting to ensure compliance, traceability, and operational excellence.
Identify opportunities to automate purchasing processes, leverage AI and technology solutions, and improve procurement efficiency through process optimization.
Foster strong cross-functional communication by participating in production planning, SIOP, and operational meetings to proactively align purchasing activities with business priorities.
Lead by example with a servant leadership mindset, maintaining a visible presence on the manufacturing floor and in the warehouse to support team members, solve problems, remove obstacles, and drive continuous improvement.
Contribute to the overall success of the procurement team by co-elevating with all team members through collaboration, cooperation, and camaraderie.
Perform additional responsibilities and tasks as assigned to support organizational and team goals.