PURCHASING MANAGER

Job Summary

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for strategic sourcing and procurement excellence across North America, leading supplier negotiations, sourcing initiatives, and contract implementation to optimize cost, quality, service, and risk reduction. This role develops strong supplier partnerships, drives sustainable savings, and strengthens procurement processes to support business growth and operational resilience.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing plans for raw materials, packaging, logistics, MRO, and services.

• Identify, qualify, and develop alternative suppliers to reduce supply risk and increase competitiveness.

• Lead RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs, ensuring objective supplier evaluation and best-value decisions.

• Establish long-term supplier partnerships that improve service, quality, innovation and cost performance.

• Develop and maintain a procurement savings pipeline (CRM) aligned with business objectives.

• Ensure compliance with Bluestar procurement policies, supplier onboarding requirements and risk management procedures.

• Develops, implements, and maintains SOPs required for ISO 13485, ISO 9001, RCMS, and C-TPAT certifications and coordinates supplier audits with Compliance and Quality.

• Drive procurement digitalization initiatives, leading process improvement and improving efficiency.

• Develop KPIs and reporting dashboards to track performance and value creation.

• Reduce sole-source dependency through second-source development and business continuity initiatives.

• Supports Manufacturing by ensuring raw materials, equipment, and services are available to sustain seamless production schedules and resolve procurement, delivery, and invoice discrepancies.

• Lead, coach, and develop the purchasing team to build supplier performance management and negotiation capabilities.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.

• Partner with global procurement teams to leverage best practices and sourcing synergies.

• Performs other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.

• 5-7 years of procurement, sourcing and purchasing experience

• 3-5 years of leadership experience.

• Proven track record delivering measurable cost savings through strategic sourcing.

• Experience negotiating supplier agreements and managing high value spend categories.

• Experience working in manufacturing, chemical, industrial, or process industries preferred.

• Strong SAP expertise and proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

• Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

• Knowledge of quality systems, supplier-performance programs and global sourcing practices.

• Ability to build effective working relationships across domestic and global teams.

• Requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing business needs, and operate effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and ability to handle confidential information with integrity.

• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate in a diverse team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with chemical purchasing, logistics procurement, or large-scale supplier negotiations.

• Experience supporting global purchasing strategies or involvement in multinational supply-chain alignment.

• CPP, CPIM, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent certifications

Working Conditions

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with regular interaction and collaboration across functions, departments, and geographic locations.

• Requires the ability to manage multiple priorities, adapt to changing business needs, and operate effectively in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

• Requires prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, including use of a keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other office equipment.

• Involves frequent communication and interaction with employees, managers, customers, and business partners through in-person meetings, telephone, video conferencing, and other communication platforms.

• May require occasional work in manufacturing, laboratory, warehouse, or other operational environments. Compliance with all safety policies, procedures, and required personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory when entering designated areas.

• May require travel to support business needs.

• May be required to work outside normal business hours on occasion to support the business.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.