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Purchasing Manager

Location: South Windsor, CT

Reports To: Director of Operations

About CPM

CPM is a packaging distribution and 3PL services company supporting consumer, industrial, and medical customers. We provide custom packaging solutions and complement them with kitting, assembly, and order fulfillment services. As we expand our cold chain and regulated product offerings, we are strengthening our procurement function to support scalability, margin discipline, and service reliability.

Role Summary

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for ensuring the right materials are available at the right time, at the right cost, to support CPM’s customers and growth objectives. This role manages vendor relationships, inventory replenishment, and sourcing for new programs while driving margin optimization and supply chain reliability.

The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, proactive, analytically strong, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced distribution and light manufacturing environment. This person must be capable of reading technical drawings, negotiating effectively with suppliers, and collaborating cross-functionally with sales, client services, and warehouse operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Inventory & Replenishment

• Manage the replenishment process through the ERP system to ensure materials remain in stock and ready to ship.
• Monitor inventory levels, turns, and lead times to prevent stockouts and excess inventory.
• Develop data-driven recommendations to optimize inventory investment and contribution margin.

Vendor Management & Negotiation

• Proactively follow up with vendors on outstanding quotes, purchase orders, and delivery commitments.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and service levels to improve gross margin performance.
• Coordinate expedited orders when necessary to protect customer service commitments.
• Evaluate supplier performance (cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness) and recommend improvements or alternatives.

Sourcing & New Program Support

• Review technical drawings and specifications to validate requirements and source new products for upcoming projects and programs.
• Collaborate with Sales and Operations to support quoting for new business opportunities.
• Identify alternative materials or suppliers that improve cost, quality, or lead time.

Quality & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate material quality issues between Client Services, Operations, and suppliers to ensure timely resolution.
• Support Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs in partnership with the Client Services team.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance supply chain transparency, speed, and accuracy.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational discipline
• Proactive communicator who follows through and closes loops
• Experience working in a procurement role in distribution, 3PL, packaging, or light manufacturing environments
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings and specifications
• Strong analytical skills; comfortable working with inventory data and margin analysis
• ERP system experience required (Fishbowl or similar preferred)
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field preferred

What Success Looks Like:

• Improved inventory turns without compromising service levels
• Reduced stockouts and fewer expedited freight situations
• Measurable gross margin improvement through vendor negotiation and sourcing strategy
• Strong supplier relationships and improved on-time delivery performance
• Clear visibility into procurement metrics and performance drivers

Compensation

• 80-90k
• 401(k)
• Health benefits
• Performance-based bonus opportunity tied to inventory optimization and margin improvement