Purchasing Assistant Jobs in Erie, PA (NOW HIRING)

About Us:

Established in 1942, Eriez is a global leader in separation technologies. Our dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction has made us a prominent market leader in magnetic separation, flotation, metal detection, and material handling equipment. With over 900 employees worldwide, we serve industries such as mining, food processing, recycling, packaging, and aggregates.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead our purchasing team and ensure that materials, components, and services are sourced at the right cost, quality, and delivery to support production and customer commitments. This role combines day-to-day purchasing execution with team leadership, continuous improvement, and close collaboration with Operations to keep the plant running efficiently and cost-effectively.

Responsibilities:

Team Leadership & Daily Operations:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the purchasing team, including workload planning, performance management, and skills development.
• Oversee daily purchasing activities, ensuring purchase orders are issued accurately and on time to support production schedules.
• Provide guidance on supplier selection, pricing, and terms to ensure consistent decision-making and adherence to policies.​
• Ensure good communication on purchasing issues to Production Control and Manufacturing to facilitate workflow.

Procurement Execution:

• Manage the full purchasing cycle, including RFQs, price analysis, negotiations, and order placement.
• Ensure materials, components, and services are sourced at competitive prices while meeting quality and delivery requirements.
• Resolve purchasing issues such as late deliveries, quality concerns, and invoice discrepancies in coordination with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Supplier Management:

• Maintain and develop relationships with key suppliers to improve performance, responsiveness, and reliability.
• Monitor supplier performance using metrics such as on-time delivery, quality, and cost; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Support supplier evaluations, audits, and, when appropriate, supplier consolidation efforts.​

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner closely with Production, Planning, Inventory Control, Quality, and Engineering to align purchasing decisions with demand, inventory targets, and technical requirements.
• Participate in cross-functional teams for new product introductions, value engineering initiatives, and cost-reduction projects.
• Communicate material availability, risks, and mitigation plans to internal stakeholders in a timely manner.

Cost Management & Continuous Improvement:

• Analyze spend, supplier capabilities, and demand patterns to identify consolidation, cost reduction, and value creation opportunities.
• Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities through negotiations, alternative sourcing, volume leverage, and process improvements.
• Track and report purchasing KPIs (cost savings, on-time delivery, order cycle time, inventory impact) to leadership.
• Promote continuous improvement in sourcing processes, analytics, and tools to improve efficiency and transparency.​

Compliance & Data Integrity:

• Ensure adherence to company purchasing policies, ethical standards, and compliance requirements.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data in the ERP system, including pricing, lead times, and supplier information.
• Support internal and external audits related to purchasing and supply chain activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive experience in purchasing/procurement in a manufacturing environment.
• At least 3-5 years of experience in a supervisory or team lead role.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier negotiations and cost reduction initiatives.
• Strong understanding of purchasing practices, supplier management, and contract/terms negotiation in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to coach and develop a team.
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills; capable of interpreting data to drive decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) and experience with ERP/MRP systems.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and levels.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced, plant-focused environment

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Medical Insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Paid time off
• Referral program

Eriez is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race/ethnicity, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation.

We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.