Purchasing Manager

Wago Corporation - Germantown, WI

Full-time - Mid Level

Germantown, WI

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

About the position

WAGO Corporation seeks a purchasing professional to lead and mentor personnel for electronic and mechanical manufacturing purchasing activities. The Purchasing Manager will join company-wide teams to ensure on-time customer satisfaction by securing third-party materials and services for direct sale, use in engineering/production, and facility support. This role involves coordinating project activities to support cost-effective operational growth. The Purchasing Manager will utilize SAP to create, schedule, and expedite purchase orders, ensuring that SAP is updated with the best information available to predict consumption, lead-time, and supplier purchasing requirements. The requirements for purchasing vary, including delivery, cost, technical specifications, quality, and conformity to specifications. The Purchasing Manager will focus on supply chain activities related to electronic components, steel/copper rails, power supplies, panels, private relabel, packaging, production/facility consumables, and production/operations/facility services and equipment. This position requires strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management, where negotiation mastery is essential to secure favorable terms, pricing, and lead times for cost savings and competitiveness. The Purchasing Manager will identify, evaluate, and collaborate with suppliers, establishing strong partnerships to ensure a consistent and timely supply of components. Additionally, the role involves anticipating and resolving changes in demand and potential disruptions impacting component availability and pricing, monitoring quality and compliance standards, and balancing adequate stock to ensure production while avoiding excess carrying costs. Effective collaboration with cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, production, logistics, accounting, sales, and supply chain, is crucial to ensure components seamlessly integrate into the final product. The Purchasing Manager will also contribute to and support departmental initiatives, demonstrating a high level of customer service, organizational, and communication skills, both oral and written, with suppliers and internal teams to ensure clarity, alignment, and smooth flow of operations. This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee, as additional job-related duties may be assigned as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor personnel for electronic and mechanical manufacturing purchasing activities.
• Ensure on-time customer satisfaction by securing third-party materials and services.
• Coordinate project activities to support cost-effective operational growth.
• Utilize SAP to create, schedule, and expedite purchase orders.
• Update SAP with accurate information to predict consumption, lead-time, and supplier purchasing requirements.
• Negotiate favorable terms, pricing, and lead times with suppliers.
• Identify, evaluate, and collaborate with suppliers to establish strong partnerships.
• Anticipate and resolve changes in demand and potential disruptions.
• Monitor quality and compliance standards of goods and services.
• Balance adequate stock levels to ensure production while avoiding excess carrying costs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of components into final products.
• Contribute to and support departmental initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field.
• Five years of purchasing experience.
• Experience sourcing in the electrical, electronic, automation, panel assembly, or related field is a strong plus.
• High-quality customer service skills.
• Strong organizational and communication skills (both oral and written).
• Proficient negotiation skills to secure favorable terms and pricing.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to adapt to changes in roles and manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Exhibit a sense of urgency with internal customers.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• AD&D insurance
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance