Senior Purchasing/Planning Manager

Laars Heating Systems Company is a global leader in the boiler and water heater industry. Our products are designed and manufactured in the United States, and we have earned a competitive advantage through our innovation and customer dedication. We have a talented team of Engineers, Designers, and Technicians, along with a new state-of-the-art R&D laboratory. Our focus is on new condensing boiler and heat pump water heater technology and the continued growth and success of our organization.

Laars Heating Systems is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager who is responsible for supervising a team of professionals and administrative staff in the activities of purchasing, planning, inventory management and control, vendor selection and relationship management within an assigned area of raw materials, purchased components, or third-party outsourced processes or services. Responsibilities include acting as the Buyer/Planner for the most complex and/or longest lead time items including vendor selection and negotiations, reviewing quotes, preparing and issuing Purchase Requisitions/Orders, determining proper inventory levels, ensuring accurate and timely records of on-hand inventory and planned inventory replenishment, and solving problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Plans, directs, and monitors all purchasing activities so that the goods, materials, supplies, and services the organization buys meet its standards of price, quality, timing, and reliability of supply.
• Oversees the maintenance of purchasing systems that track the status of purchase orders; determines the required availability of materials needed to meet inventory requirements and the master production schedule.
• Responds to current or projected demand by responding to forecasts or historical volumes; determines projected demand, establishes purchase quantities by reviewing price points vs. carrying costs; reviews/qualifies lead times and makes other commodity-based decisions (steel, metals, natural gas) based on global market trends.
• Participates in determining safety stock levels / standard order quantities, etc.
• Reviews the ERP and responds to the Master Schedule and/or scheduled Manufacturing Work Orders; compares open Purchase Orders vs. Demand
• Liaises with functional or operational area managers (e.g., in sales, production, or engineering) to anticipate their demand for goods and materials so the supply of materials meets their current and future needs; develops plans, cost estimates, and schedules for integrating these needs into existing purchasing activities.
• Evaluates and selects suppliers; negotiates terms for major purchases within established limits of authority; analyzes and evaluates supplier bids, tenders, proposals, or quotations where the purchase order is more complex or of greater significance to the organization; negotiates prices and delivery conditions; commits to purchases (within established limits of authority) with terms that are in the organization's best interest.
• Obtains and reviews quotes; qualifies pricing and/or price increases, determines if price increases are acceptable; updates pricing information in ERP system.
• Selects and manages relationships with suppliers, vendors, or sub-contractors to ensure the organization receives satisfactory standards of service; communicates with vendors to resolve problems with the timeliness or quality of supplies; responds to escalated inquiries; reviews and authorizes the purchasing recommendations of others (within established limits of authority).
• Analyzes and evaluates overall purchasing trends to potential bulk purchases; analyzes and evaluates external price trends and new product offerings to reduce overall purchasing costs.
• Supervises the day-to-day activities of the team who purchase goods, materials, supplies, and prioritizes and assigns tasks to ensure that the team's resources are used effectively and that work schedules and targets are met.
• Responds to Shortages; manages projected physical inventory levels.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration
• 5 years of relevant purchasing experience, preferably in HVAC, thermal systems, or industrial equipment.
• Experience in the planning function
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading a team
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and ERP Systems
• Excellent relationship builder
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.