Procurement Specialist
A growing manufacturing organization is seeking a highly motivated Procurement & Materials Specialist to lead purchasing, sourcing, and inventory management operations within a dynamic production environment. This role plays a critical part in ensuring the efficient flow of materials, optimizing supplier relationships, and driving continuous improvement across procurement and warehouse processes.
Responsibilities
Procurement & Strategic Sourcing
- Lead end-to-end procurement activities, including sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiation, and vendor performance management
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with operational and financial objectives
- Manage competitive bid processes (RFP/RFQ) to ensure optimal pricing, quality, and service outcomes
- Negotiate and administer contracts for goods, services, raw materials, consumables, and logistics providers
- Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies, procedures, and ethical sourcing standards
- Leverage market intelligence and supplier insights to identify cost-saving and value-creation opportunities
Inventory & Materials Management
- Oversee warehouse operations, including receiving, storage, material flow, and distribution
- Maintain accurate inventory through cycle counting, reconciliation, and continuous process improvements
- Lead inventory optimization initiatives, including safety stock, min/max planning, and working capital reduction
- Analyze usage trends, forecast material requirements, and align inventory strategies with production needs
- Drive efforts to reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory
Process Improvement & Operational Excellence
- Identify and implement process improvements across procurement, contract management, and inventory control
- Lead initiatives to modernize systems, tools, and workflows to improve efficiency and transparency
- Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to procurement, supplier performance, and inventory accuracy
- Champion continuous improvement methodologies and best practices
Financial & Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with finance on budgeting, forecasting, monthly accruals, and cost tracking
- Support annual budgeting and long-term planning processes, including capital projects and major maintenance activities
- Provide cost analysis and reporting related to materials, services, and supplier performance
- Collaborate with operations to ensure alignment between procurement strategies and production requirements
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure all procurement and contracting activities are conducted in accordance with legal and ethical standards
- Oversee contractor compliance requirements, including insurance and risk mitigation protocols
- Maintain accurate documentation and audit-ready procurement records
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance, Engineering, or a related field
- Minimum of 4+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or contract management within a manufacturing, production, or construction environment
- Strong negotiation skills with proven success managing supplier relationships and contracts
- Demonstrated experience in inventory management, warehouse operations, and materials planning
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional certifications such as CPM, APICS (CPIM/CSCP), or similar
- Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Oracle Cloud or equivalent)
- Exposure to continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)
FAQs
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