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Purchasing Manager

  • Colorado Springs, CO

Purchasing Manager

Industry: Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings (PEMB) / Metal Building Manufacturing

Position Overview

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading all procurement activities for a metal building manufacturer. This individual will develop and execute purchasing strategies that ensure the timely and cost-effective acquisition of raw materials, structural components, building accessories, and indirect materials necessary to support manufacturing and project operations.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong supplier management and negotiation skills who can balance inventory levels, material costs, and production demands in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This role will serve as a key liaison between operations, manufacturing, engineering, and vendors to ensure materials are available when needed while driving continuous improvement and cost savings initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Strategy & Leadership

  • Develop and implement purchasing strategies that support company growth objectives and operational efficiency.
  • Establish procurement policies and best practices to improve purchasing performance.
  • Identify opportunities for cost reductions, supplier consolidation, and process improvements.
  • Create long-term sourcing strategies for critical materials and services.

Supplier Management

  • Develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers and vendors.
  • Evaluate supplier performance based on:
    • Cost competitiveness
    • Delivery performance
    • Product quality
    • Responsiveness
    • Service levels
  • Conduct supplier reviews and implement corrective actions when necessary.
  • Source and qualify new vendors to improve pricing and reduce supply chain risk.

Contract Negotiation

  • Negotiate pricing agreements, contracts, and purchasing terms.
  • Secure favorable payment terms, freight agreements, and volume discounts.
  • Manage contract renewals and vendor agreements.
  • Mitigate exposure to commodity price fluctuations, particularly steel pricing.

Inventory Management

  • Monitor inventory levels and purchasing activity to ensure adequate stock while minimizing excess inventory.
  • Establish reorder points and safety stock levels.
  • Analyze demand trends and forecast future purchasing requirements.
  • Work closely with production and project management teams to ensure material availability.

Supply Chain Coordination

  • Oversee the entire procurement lifecycle:
    • Requisitions
    • Purchase Orders
    • Vendor acknowledgments
    • Expediting
    • Delivery coordination
    • Invoice resolution
  • Ensure materials are delivered on time and in accordance with project schedules.
  • Resolve material shortages, delivery delays, and supplier issues.

Data Analysis & Reporting

  • Analyze purchasing metrics and develop KPIs related to:
    • Material costs
    • Supplier performance
    • Inventory turns
    • Purchase price variance
    • On-time delivery
  • Utilize purchasing data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
  • Prepare reports and recommendations for senior leadership.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with:
    • Operations
    • Manufacturing
    • Engineering
    • Project Management
    • Accounting
    • Sales
  • Align purchasing strategies with production schedules and project timelines.
  • Participate in planning meetings and provide material availability updates.

Compliance & Risk Management

  • Ensure compliance with company policies and procurement procedures.
  • Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation.
  • Monitor market conditions and supply chain risks.
  • Develop contingency plans for critical suppliers and materials.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or related field preferred.
  • Minimum of 5 years of purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience.
  • Experience in:
    • Manufacturing
    • Construction
    • Steel fabrication
    • Pre-engineered metal buildings strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated success negotiating high-value contracts and achieving measurable cost savings.
  • Strong understanding of inventory management principles.
  • Experience managing multiple vendors and supplier relationships.
  • Proficiency with ERP systems and purchasing software.

Preferred Industry Experience

Candidates coming from the following industries would be highly attractive:

  • Pre-Engineered Metal Buildings (PEMB)
  • Structural Steel
  • Steel Fabrication
  • Building Materials Manufacturing
  • Construction Products Manufacturing
  • Industrial Manufacturing

Technical Skills

  • ERP systems:
    • MBS
    • Epicor
    • SAP
    • Microsoft Dynamics
    • Oracle
    • NetSuite
  • Microsoft Excel (advanced)
  • Inventory management software
  • Data analysis and reporting tools

Key Competencies

  • Strategic sourcing
  • Negotiation and contract management
  • Supplier relationship management
  • Inventory planning
  • Cost reduction initiatives
  • Supply chain optimization
  • Problem solving
  • Analytical thinking
  • Attention to detail
  • Communication and collaboration
  • Project management
  • Leadership and decision making

Success Metrics (First 12 Months)

  • Reduce material costs through strategic sourcing initiatives.
  • Improve supplier on-time delivery performance.
  • Increase inventory accuracy and inventory turns.
  • Shorten procurement cycle times.
  • Establish measurable procurement KPIs.
  • Build strong supplier partnerships and improve purchasing processes.
  • Support manufacturing and project teams by ensuring uninterrupted material availability.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This person is likely coming from a metal building manufacturer, structural steel fabricator, or industrial manufacturer and has experience purchasing:

  • Structural steel
  • Coil and sheet products
  • Secondary framing components
  • Fasteners and hardware
  • Insulation
  • Building accessories
  • Paint and coatings
  • Manufacturing consumables

They are data-driven, highly organized, comfortable negotiating with vendors, and capable of operating in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where production schedules and project deadlines are constantly changing.