Manufacturing Purchasing Manager (Metals Preferred)

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Job Title: Manufacturing Purchasing Manager (Metals Preferred)

Location: Syracuse, NY (On-Site)

Job Type: Full-time, direct hire

Salary Range: Approximately $110,000–$115,000 annually depending on experience

About the Role:

A growing manufacturing organization is seeking a hands-on Purchasing Manager to lead procurement and supplier management activities in support of production operations. This role is responsible for ensuring materials, fabricated components, and manufacturing-related supplies are sourced at the right cost, quality, and delivery standards.

This is a strong opportunity for a purchasing or supply chain leader who enjoys being close to the manufacturing floor, building supplier partnerships, improving purchasing processes, and leading a small team. The position is not purely transactional; the right person will bring strategic sourcing discipline, supplier accountability, inventory awareness, and practical leadership to the purchasing function.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead day-to-day purchasing and supply chain activities supporting manufacturing operations.
• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with production schedules, inventory targets, cost objectives, and supplier performance goals.
• Manage supplier relationships with an emphasis on long-term partnership, reliability, quality, and competitiveness.
• Source, evaluate, and manage suppliers for raw materials, fabricated components, production-related materials, and manufacturing services.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, contracts, and supply agreements to support cost savings and supply continuity.
• Issue, review, and manage purchase orders to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with internal processes.
• Monitor supplier performance related to delivery, quality, responsiveness, and cost; address issues and corrective actions as needed.
• Develop backup supplier options and contingency plans to reduce supply risk.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, engineering, production, finance, and leadership teams on supplier selection, material availability, production needs, and cost-related decisions.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support production while minimizing excess, obsolete, or slow-moving stock.
• Track market conditions, material availability, lead times, and pricing trends to support planning and risk mitigation.
• Generate and analyze purchasing metrics, cost reports, supplier data, and inventory-related information to support leadership decision-making.
• Lead, mentor, and provide direction to purchasing/procurement staff.
• Remain hands-on with select buying activities to stay close to the work and support the team as needed.
• Spend time on the manufacturing floor to understand how purchased materials are used and how procurement decisions affect production.

Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent hands-on manufacturing purchasing experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• 8–10 years of purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or closely related experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading buyers, purchasing staff, or procurement team members. (Required)
• Strong supplier relationship management experience, including supplier evaluation, negotiations, performance management, and issue resolution.
• Experience with both strategic sourcing and hands-on tactical purchasing.
• Experience buying raw materials, fabricated components, metals, steel, industrial equipment, or other manufacturing-related materials is highly preferred.
• Exposure to custom manufacturing, engineered-to-order products, fabrication, industrial equipment, or similar production environments is a strong plus.
• Experience improving purchasing KPIs, supplier metrics, cost controls, inventory visibility, or procurement processes.
• Experience supporting supplier development, alternative sourcing, or supply risk mitigation.
• Experience attending supplier meetings, trade shows, or industry events to identify sourcing opportunities is a plus.

Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems, purchasing workflows, inventory management, and production-driven procurement.
• Experience with Epicor or a similar manufacturing ERP system is a strong plus.
• Ability to understand bills of materials, specifications, and manufacturing requirements.
• Strong analytical ability with experience reviewing purchasing metrics, supplier data, inventory information, and cost reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel.

Certifications:

• Supply chain, purchasing, procurement, or operations-related certifications are a plus but not required.

Soft Skills:

• Strong negotiation, communication, and organizational skills.
• Hands-on leadership style with the ability to mentor and hold team members accountable.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, operations, finance, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Practical mechanical aptitude and curiosity about how materials and components are used in production.
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to identify process, supplier, cost, and inventory improvements.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day purchasing support in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a critical purchasing function within a manufacturing environment where procurement decisions directly impact production, cost, delivery, and customer commitments. The Purchasing Manager will have the ability to strengthen supplier partnerships, improve sourcing strategy, support operational growth, and lead a small team while remaining closely connected to the manufacturing floor.

ISSI Technology Professionals celebrates diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.