What are the responsibilities and job description for the Purchasing Manager position at POLYWOOD®?
Purchasing Manager
On-Site | Syracuse, IN
Build the supplier partnerships behind a brand people love.
At POLYWOOD®, we believe great products start with great people, strong materials, and dependable supplier relationships. We are looking for a Purchasing Manager who can help lead strategic sourcing, supplier management, and purchasing operations for our growing manufacturing organization.
This role is ideal for a leader who enjoys both big-picture strategy and hands-on execution. Someone who can negotiate supplier contracts, develop sourcing strategies, improve cost performance, and lead a team, while also staying close enough to the operation to understand what is happening on the floor, what production needs, and where the team needs support.
In manufacturing, many purchasing leaders are either strong strategists or strong operators. The best leaders are both. That is what we are looking for at POLYWOOD®.
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About the Role
As Purchasing Manager, you will help strengthen the sourcing and supplier foundation that supports our manufacturing operations. You will lead purchasing professionals, manage supplier relationships, negotiate commercial agreements, and develop sourcing strategies that support quality, service, inventory, cost, and long-term growth.
Where You Will Make an Impact
- Leading and developing a purchasing team
- Building sourcing strategies for raw materials, components, fasteners, and other production-critical categories
- Managing domestic and international supplier relationships
- Negotiating pricing, contracts, terms, and supplier agreements
- Driving cost reduction without sacrificing quality or service
- Improving supplier performance, accountability, and risk management
- Supporting new product introductions and operational priorities
- Strengthening purchasing processes, systems, reporting, and team execution
- Balancing long-term sourcing strategy with day-to-day manufacturing needs
What You Bring
- You bring deep purchasing, sourcing, or supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment.
- You know how to build supplier relationships, negotiate effectively, and evaluate total cost of ownership beyond the price on a quote. You understand the importance of quality, lead time, inventory, freight, supplier risk, and production continuity.
- You also know how to lead people. You set clear expectations, coach your team, and create accountability without losing sight of collaboration.
The strongest candidates will likely bring:
- 8-12 years of purchasing, sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience
- 5 years leading purchasing, sourcing, procurement, or supply chain teams
- Manufacturing experience
- Raw material sourcing experience
- Domestic and international supplier management experience
- Asia sourcing experience preferred
- Strong contract negotiation and vendor management experience
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems
- A hands-on, business-minded leadership style
- Experience with fasteners, resins, polymers, chemicals, metals, engineered materials, or similar manufacturing inputs is a plus.
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About POLYWOOD®
At POLYWOOD®, we design and build outdoor furniture that brings people together and stands the test of time.
Our genuine POLYWOOD® lumber is made from recycled and reusable plastics, and our furniture is built with durability, quality, and sustainability in mind.
Behind every product we make is a team of people who care about doing things the right way. This role plays an important part in making sure we have the supplier partnerships, materials, and purchasing discipline needed to support continued growth.
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Why This Role Matters
This is not a transactional purchasing role. This is a leadership role with real business impact. You will help shape supplier strategy, support manufacturing performance, develop people, drive measurable savings, and strengthen the purchasing foundation behind a growing brand.
If you are energized by supplier strategy, manufacturing, team leadership, and practical problem solving, this could be a great next step.
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POLYWOOD is an equal opportunity employer. POLYWOOD evaluates qualified applicants without regard to characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.