Purchasing Manager Jobs in Racine, WI (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Purchasing Manager

Location: Waukegan, IL

Pay: $85-115k DOE

Position Summary

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all procurement activities to ensure the timely, cost-effective, and quality-driven acquisition of materials and supplies. This role manages and develops the purchasing team, ensures adherence to procurement strategies and policies, and collaborates closely with sourcing, quality, and supply chain partners to improve supplier performance and operational efficiency.

The Purchasing Manager plays a key role in driving cost savings, optimizing inventory levels, supporting lean inventory practices (including JIT), and ensuring alignment between procurement operations and overall business objectives.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the purchasing team, including hiring, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Assign and oversee daily workloads to ensure efficient and timely execution of purchasing activities.
• Provide ongoing feedback, mentorship, and performance development for team members.
• Foster a high-performing, collaborative team environment focused on accountability and continuous improvement.

Procurement Strategy & Execution

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Oversee all purchasing activities, ensuring timely procurement of materials and supplies.
• Ensure purchase orders are processed accurately and delivered on time.
• Support alignment between procurement execution and production, planning, and operational needs.
• Assist with implementation and optimization of MRP systems to improve material planning effectiveness.

Supplier & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with sourcing and quality teams to improve supplier performance related to quality, delivery, and cost.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, planning, and quality control teams to ensure material availability and alignment with production schedules.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships and ensure corrective actions are implemented when necessary.

Inventory & Cost Management

• Monitor and optimize inventory levels to reduce excess stock and warehousing costs.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives across procurement categories.
• Support budgeting efforts in collaboration with finance to ensure procurement aligns with financial targets.
• Reduce purchasing lead times through process improvements and supplier coordination.

Process Improvement & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and other operational excellence methodologies.
• Maintain accurate records of supplier performance, purchasing activity, and inventory metrics.

Performance Monitoring

• Track purchasing KPIs and operational metrics to ensure departmental objectives are met.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement corrective actions to improve performance outcomes.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, or supply chain-related functions.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing and developing teams.
• Strong knowledge of purchasing principles, inventory management, and supply chain operations.
• Experience managing supplier performance and implementing corrective action plans.
• Strong background in cost control, inventory optimization, and procurement strategy execution.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with sourcing, quality, finance, and operations teams.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence, motivate, and develop teams.
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, and organizational skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of packaging materials (corrugate, plastics, films) and/or chemical raw materials preferred.
• Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, Just-In-Time (JIT), and inventory optimization principles.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent work experience considered.
• Advanced supply chain certifications are a plus.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Inventory Management

• Aged inventory levels meet or exceed targets.
• Reduction of excess and obsolete inventory.
• Overall reduction in inventory value.

Procurement Performance

• On-time delivery performance and reduction in overdue purchase orders.
• Reduction in purchasing lead times.
• Achievement of procurement efficiency targets.

Cost Management

• Successful execution of cost-saving initiatives.
• Achievement of category-level cost reduction goals.
• Procurement activities remain aligned with approved budgets.

Supplier Performance

• Supplier performance meets or exceeds expectations for quality, delivery, and pricing.
• Effective collaboration with sourcing to implement supplier improvement initiatives.

Team Performance

• Retention and development of high-performing purchasing staff.
• Team consistently meets departmental and organizational performance metrics.

Compliance & Customer Satisfaction

• Full compliance with procurement policies and regulatory requirements.
• High internal customer satisfaction through timely and accurate material availability.

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