Purchasing Manager

Sportech - Elk River, MN

Full-time

Elk River, MN

Printing and Related Support Activities

About the position

Sportech is a rapidly growing company located in Elk River, MN, specializing in the design, manufacture, and assembly of cab components and systems for various markets including powersports, golf and turf, industrial, and agricultural sectors. We are seeking a Purchasing Manager who will play a crucial role in overseeing the purchasing team and collaborating with business leaders to develop and execute category plans that minimize vendor risk while supporting new product development activities. This position is integral to optimizing vendor economics and outcomes, ensuring that our operations run smoothly and efficiently. The Purchasing Manager will manage and lead the purchasing team, directing cross-functional team activities to meet the company's goals. This role involves collaborating with other departments to identify and develop needs for equipment, materials, and products, as well as acceptable substitutions. The manager will be responsible for developing and communicating performance metrics, utilizing best practices, and serving as a key escalation point for supplier performance issues. The position requires drafting and implementing policies and procedures for the purchasing team, driving price reduction activities, and conducting periodic reviews of supplier performance to establish goals for on-time delivery, quality, and cost reductions. In addition to these responsibilities, the Purchasing Manager will ensure repeatable product quality from the supply base with minimal inventory and no disruptions to production. The role also involves making recommendations to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency of operations, and partnering with Engineering, Project Management, and Quality teams to align design with strategic goals. Building relationships with key suppliers and representing their voice within the organization is essential, as is resolving grievances with vendors and maintaining purchasing and recordkeeping systems. The Purchasing Manager will also be expected to perform other duties as assigned, contributing to the overall success of Sportech.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead purchasing team and direct cross-functional team activities.
• Collaborate with other departments and leadership to identify and develop needs and requirements for equipment, materials, products, and acceptable substitutions.
• Develop and communicate performance metrics, leading indicator data and external market factors. Benchmark and utilize best practices.
• Serve as a key escalation point for supplier performance issues, determining corrective actions as appropriate.
• Draft, explain, and implement instructions, policies, and procedures for the purchasing team.
• Drive price reduction activities by identifying and tracking product cost drivers, market trends, and economic factors.
• Structure cost reduction programs using value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) techniques to reduce supply chain complexities, waste, and total cost.
• Conduct periodic reviews of supplier performance and establish goals for on-time delivery, quality, and cost reductions.
• Ensure repeatable product quality from supply base with minimal inventory and no disruptions to production.
• Make recommendations to improve productivity, quality, and efficiency of operations.
• Partner with Engineering, Project Management, and Quality to align design with strategic base, improve reliability and accuracy, and reduce overall business costs.
• Develop relationships with key suppliers and represent the 'voice of the supplier' in the organization.
• Resolve grievances with vendors, contractors, and suppliers.
• Conduct supplier visits as needed based on vendor performance and upcoming projects or deliverables.
• Maintain and/or implement purchasing and recordkeeping systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, economics, supply chain, or engineering.
• Minimum of 5-8 years of increasing responsibilities in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong customer service, problem-solving, communication, negotiation, tact, judgment, and organizational skills.
• Solid coaching, team building, and relationship building skills.
• Strong business acumen and analytical capabilities required.
• Excellent communication skills, cross-functional networking, and project management skills required.
• Previous experience with raw material procurement processes and supplier performance management programs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and advanced Excel skills required; Epicor experience strongly preferred.
• CPM, APICS, or other supply chain management certifications preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a rapidly growing company environment.
• Familiarity with the powersports, golf and turf, industrial, and agricultural markets.