Purchasing Manager
Position Summary:
Located in Brentwood, TN, this position is responsible for a variety of tasks within the Purchasing Department to include but not limited to providing strategic and tactical direction for the procurement team. The PM will lead the Purchasing Department in the achievement of “Excellence” and implementation of best-practices. Specific focus will be given to developing a structured and value-added function within VGT while ensuring that corporate policies and procedures are maintained. This position will manage staff in Brentwood as well as a Contract Negotiator position in Charlottesville, VA.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategy & Planning
· Monitor and analyze trends in company spending and inventory control in order to make recommendations for the future, and to identify areas for possible savings.
· Prepare reports regarding market conditions and merchandise costs.
· Develop, establish, implement, and enforce supplier and outsourcer guidelines, obligations, and service level agreements to the organization.
· Develop and implement all purchasing policies and procedures, including those for equipment, hardware, software, and service provision, in conjunction with department leads and department-specific requirements.
· Analyze trends and market conditions for the present and future pricing, availability, lead-time, and capacity of goods and services.
· Interview, identify, and qualify potential new vendors or suppliers in order to secure more cost-effective sources of products and services.
· Develop and deliver purchasing and inventory reports, bid proposals, requirements documentation, and tender documents.
· Responsible for overall optimum sourcing, supplier selection, and cost management.
· Cultivate interdepartmental and supplier relationships by example to ensure professional, effective, and positive relations.
· Travel to multiple VGT sites in order to gain a better understanding of processes, meet with respective suppliers in order to promote a positive relationship within the organization.
· Lead cost reduction initiatives, without sacrificing company’s lead-times or quality
· Define purchasing recommendations that support business goals, in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders.
· Negotiate pricing, terms and conditions of sale, and warranties of goods and products with key suppliers and vendors.
· Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions of contracts with contractors and/or service providers.
· Draft and submit budget proposals, and recommend subsequent budget changes as needed.
Operational Management
· Direct and manage sourcing strategies from beginning to end.
· Monitor vendor, service provider, outsourcer, and/or contractor performance to ensure quality of service.
· Manage procurement team staffing, including recruitment, supervision, scheduling, development, evaluation, and disciplinary actions.
· Establish and maintain regular written and in-person communications with the organization’s executives, department heads, and end users regarding pertinent sourcing activities.
· Develop and implement purchasing and contract manangement instructions, policies, and procedures.
· Participate in the development of specifications for equipment, products, or substitute materials.
· Resolve vendor or contractor grievances, and claims against suppliers
· Effectively communicate procurement strategies to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
· Assist in the development of, provide oversight and support to the company’s ERP, MRP and documentation systems
Knowledge/Skills Required:
The attributes listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required:
- Must possess above average prioritization skills.
- Requires the ability to maintain a positive personal demeanor in stressful situations.
- Excellent contract management skills are essential.
- Effective bartering and negotiation skills.
- Ability to deal tactfully with vendors, suppliers, and contractors who provide a broad spectrum of products and services.
- Superb budgeting, inventory, and cost-management skills.
- General knowledge of accounting, finance, marketing, and logistics.
- Demonstrated experience in associate management.
- Experience at working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment is essential.
- Can conform to shifting priorities in spending strategies, product demands and purchasing timelines through analytical capabilities.
- Persuasive, encouraging, and diplomatic.
- Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Adept at conducting research into product- and service-related issues.
- Must be able to learn, understand, and apply new technologies.
- Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software
Education, Training and Experience:
- Bachelors Degree in Business Management or equivalent degree
- APICS, ISM, or similar certification required.
- 10 years direct work experience in a purchasing or procurement capacity in a supervisory capacity, including all aspects of strategy development and execution.
- Above average skills with MS Excel, Outlook and Dynamics GP experience a major plus.
- Must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong knowledge of purchasing regulations and laws
- Strong familiarity and technical competence with purchase management software and/or automated procurement systems, such as MRP
- Solid working knowledge of current IT technologies preferred
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear.
The associate frequently is required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The associate is occasionally required to sit, climb, or balance. The associate must be able to lift, move, and control 40 pounds short distances without mechanical aid; and frequently lift and/or move 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx, 401(k) match, Life Insurance, AD&D, STD, LTD, Employee Assistance Program, Health/Dependent Care Reimbursement, Tuition Reimbursement, 9 Paid holidays and Paid Time Off.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
