Materials & Purchasing Manager

Description

Materials \& Purchasing Manager

Position Summary

The Materials \& Purchasing Manager is responsible for ensuring uninterrupted material flow to support manufacturing operations while optimizing inventory levels, supplier performance, and procurement costs. This role leads purchasing, materials planning, inventory control, and supplier management activities to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Purchasing \& Supplier Management

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Source, negotiate, and manage supplier agreements and contracts.
• Evaluate supplier performance on quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness.
• Lead supplier development and corrective action initiatives.
• Identify cost reduction and continuous improvement opportunities.

Materials Planning \& Inventory Management

• Ensure material availability to support production schedules.
• Manage MRP/ERP planning processes and inventory accuracy.
• Establish inventory targets and monitor inventory turns.
• Reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.
• Coordinate cycle counts and physical inventory activities.
• Supervise Shipping \& Receiving activities

Operations Support

• Collaborate closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Finance teams.
• Support new product introductions and engineering change management.
• Resolve material shortages and supply chain disruptions.
• Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply risks.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop purchasing and materials personnel.
• Establish department goals, KPIs, and performance metrics.
• Coach team members and promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and employee development.

Reporting \& Compliance

• Monitor purchasing spend and budget performance.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and procurement procedures.
• Prepare and present supply chain performance reports to leadership.
• Maintain compliance with applicable quality and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• 5\+ years of purchasing, materials management, or supply chain leadership experience.
• Manufacturing environment experience required.
• Experience managing suppliers and contract negotiations.
• Previous supervisory or management experience preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong ERP/MRP systems experience (Infor LN, SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and data analysis, including Power BI.
• Inventory management and demand planning experience.
• Understanding of procurement and supply chain best practices.

Leadership Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Results-oriented with strong organizational skills.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Supplier On-Time Delivery (%)
• Inventory Turns
• Material Shortage Incidents
• Purchase Price Variance (PPV)
• Inventory Accuracy
• Supplier Quality Performance (PPM)
• Cost Savings Achievement
• Production Schedule Attainment

Preferred Certifications

• APICS CРІМ
• APICS CSCP
• CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management)
• Lean Manufacturing Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt

Skills

Purchasing, supplier management, inventory management, Inventory, Purchasing experience, Supply chain, erp, mrp system, data analysis

Top Skills Details

Purchasing,supplier management,inventory management,Inventory,Purchasing experience

Experience Level

Intermediate Level

Job Type \& Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Elkmont, AL.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $115000\.00 - $115000\.00/yr.

Offers an excellent benefits package after only 30 days of service to include: Three health insurance plans to choose from, one includes an employer contribution Health Savings Account (HSA) with an employer contribution. Vision and Dental Insurance plans An option for a Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Spending Account (FSA) Company paid life insurance, as well as short and long term disability coverage. Employee assistance program (EAP) Supplemental Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance can be purchased at nominal rates Discounts on travel and company products including tools A tuition reimbursement program A 401K with an employer match/contribution at 3% Paid vacation, plus three days of paid time off for personal days 11 paid holidays A climate-controlled work environment with heating and air conditioning. Plus all of our associates are paid WEEKLY.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Elkmont,AL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 20, 2026\.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500\. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.