The Purchasing & Inventory Control Manager is a strategic supply chain leader responsible for developing and executing sourcing, procurement, inventory management, and supplier relationship strategies that support operational excellence, cost optimization, risk mitigation, and uninterrupted production. This role provides end-to-end visibility across the supply chain, from demand planning and supplier management through inventory control, production support, and inventory valuation. Reporting to the Controller, this position partners closely with Operations, Production, Receiving, Engineering/Product Management, Customer Service, Sales, and Accounting to align procurement and inventory strategies with company objectives. The Purchasing & Inventory Control Manager is expected to leverage data analytics, market intelligence, supplier performance metrics, and risk management practices to drive informed sourcing decisions, reduce total cost of ownership, improve inventory turns, and strengthen supply continuity. The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen, contract negotiation expertise, inventory control knowledge, and supply chain analytics to support growth, profitability, and operational resilience within a dynamic manufacturing environment. Key Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing, Procurement & Supplier Management: - Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives that optimize total cost of ownership, improve service levels, and reduce supply chain risk.
- Lead supplier selection, qualification, and ongoing performance management processes utilizing measurable scorecards focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, cost competitiveness, and risk exposure.
- Negotiate pricing, contract terms, service-level agreements, payment terms, rebates, and supply commitments to improve profitability and strengthen supplier partnerships.
- Manage supplier contracts, ensuring compliance with commercial obligations, risk mitigation requirements, and company procurement policies.
- Identify and implement supplier diversification strategies to reduce dependency on single-source vendors and mitigate supply disruption risks.
- Monitor supplier financial health, market conditions, geopolitical risks, and industry trends that may impact supply continuity, cost, or availability.
- Drive annual cost reduction, cost avoidance, and value engineering initiatives through data-driven sourcing and supplier collaboration.
Inventory Strategy, Planning & Optimization: - Establish inventory strategies that balance customer service requirements, production continuity, inventory investment, and working capital objectives.
- Analyze end-to-end inventory performance including demand variability, replenishment cycles, forecast accuracy, lead times, safety stock levels, and inventory turns.
- Develop inventory optimization plans to minimize excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory while ensuring material availability.
- Partner with Production and Operations to align procurement activities with manufacturing schedules, capacity planning, and customer demand.
- Lead cycle count programs, physical inventories, reconciliation activities, and variance investigations to ensure inventory accuracy and financial integrity.
- Support inventory valuation, reserve analysis, inventory adjustments, and audit requirements in partnership with Accounting.
Supply Chain Risk Management & Business Continuity: - Develop and maintain supply chain risk management strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate operational, supplier, logistics, and market risks.
- Establish contingency plans and alternate sourcing strategies for critical materials and services.
- Monitor supplier performance and develop corrective action plans when quality, delivery, or compliance issues arise.
- Collaborate with leadership to proactively address potential supply disruptions and develop business continuity plans.
- Evaluate sourcing decisions through both financial and operational risk frameworks to strengthen organizational resilience.
Data Analytics, Reporting & Decision Support: - Develop and maintain procurement and inventory performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting tools that provide visibility into spending, inventory performance, supplier effectiveness, and cost management opportunities.
- Utilize ERP and supply chain systems to analyze purchasing trends, forecast demand, measure supplier performance, and identify process improvement opportunities.
- Lead data-driven decision making by providing actionable insights related to inventory investment, material availability, sourcing opportunities, and supply chain performance.
- Analyze key performance indicators including inventory turns, fill rates, supplier on-time delivery, forecast accuracy, purchase price variance, carrying costs, and supplier quality metrics.
- Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership to support operational and financial planning.
Logistics, Materials Management & Operational Execution: - Oversee procurement and material flow processes to ensure timely replenishment and uninterrupted production operations.
- Manage inbound freight strategies and supplier delivery performance to optimize transportation costs and service levels.
- Resolve complex purchasing, supplier, inventory, and logistics issues that could impact production schedules or customer commitments.
- Ensure purchase order accuracy, contract compliance, and timely issue resolution related to pricing discrepancies, shortages, warranty claims, quality concerns, and delivery exceptions.
- Collaborate with Receiving and Warehouse functions to improve inventory accuracy and material handling efficiency.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Continuous Improvement: - Serve as a key business partner across Finance, Operations, Production, Sales, Customer Service, and Product Management to support company objectives.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on cost savings, supply chain efficiency, inventory optimization, and process improvements.
- Develop and maintain procurement and inventory control policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Participate in budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning, and inventory investment decisions.
- Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, operational excellence, and data-driven decision making.
Qualifications; Required Experience & Education - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Finance, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, inventory control, materials management, or supply chain leadership within a manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing procurement activities with responsibility for supplier negotiations, contract administration, inventory optimization, and cost reduction initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience analyzing end-to-end supply chain performance and implementing improvements that positively impact operational and financial results.
- Experience working closely with Accounting and Finance teams regarding inventory valuation, inventory controls, and cost management.
Required Certifications - Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or equivalent professional purchasing certification.
- Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) certification required or actively pursuing certification within an agreed-upon timeframe.
Technical & Professional Competencies - Advanced negotiation, supplier relationship management, and contract administration skills.
- Strong understanding of strategic sourcing methodologies, supplier risk assessment, and supply chain continuity planning.
- Advanced analytical skills with demonstrated ability to leverage data to drive procurement and inventory decisions.
- Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and reporting tools for inventory planning, forecasting, and purchasing optimization.
- Strong financial acumen including inventory valuation, cost analysis, budgeting, and total cost of ownership assessments.
- Ability to evaluate supplier performance using quantitative and qualitative metrics.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functional areas.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Core Competencies - Strategic thinking and business acumen.
- Risk management and problem-solving.
- Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder influence.
- Decision-making and accountability.
- Change management and continuous improvement leadership.
- Process optimization and operational excellence.
Physical Requirements - Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Ability to communicate effectively via phone, email, and chat throughout the workday.
The annual compensation for this position ranges from $95,000. to $110,000.; determined by factors including experience, education, certifications, and demonstrated expertise. This is a full-time, exempt position that is fully on-site. There is no remote work opportunity for this role. CAROUSEL CHECKS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
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