Thin Films Process Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Procurement Manager is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, purchasing and supplier management functions of the organization. This position ensures the timely, cost-effective and reliable procurement of raw materials, equipment and services necessary to support production, quality and customer delivery requirements.

Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Customer Service, Sales and Accounting, the Procurement Manager develops sourcing strategies, negotiates supplier agreements, manages inventory and supply chain risk and identifies opportunities to improve cost, quality and operational efficiency. Key materials include pressure sensitive substrates, films, papers, adhesives, inks, coatings, tooling, packaging materials and manufacturing supplies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for direct and indirect materials.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, payment terms and supplier agreements to maximize value and minimize risk.  
• Establish and maintain a strong supplier relationship to ensure quality, delivery, service and cost expectations are achieved.
• Monitor inventory levels and purchasing activities to support production schedules and customer demand while optimizing working capital.
• Support the management of supplier concerns through participation in root cause analysis, corrective action follow-up and supplier improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate supplier performance through established metrics, scorecards and corrective action processes.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction, supplier consolidation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Operations on new product launches, material qualifications and supplier selection.
• Analyze market conditions, raw material trends and supply chain risks to anticipate disruptions and develop contingency plans.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, regulatory requirements and quality standards, including IATF 16949 and ISO 14001.
• Manage contract administration and purchasing safeguards related to supplier terms, warranties, intellectual property, liability exposure and performance guarantees.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and inventory management initiatives.
• Lead, coach and develop purchasing personnel while promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
• Participate in cross-functional projects, supplier reviews, industry events and professional development opportunities to support organizational growth and best practices. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of procurement, purchasing or supply chain experience in a manufacturing environment; label, packaging, printing or converting industry experience preferred.
• Minimum of 1 year of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier contracts and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication and problem-solving skills.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Knowledge sourcing, purchasing, inventory management, forecasting and production planning.
• Understanding of label manufacturing processes, including flexographic, digital and converting operations.
• Familiarity with pressure-sensitive materials, films, papers, liners, adhesives, inks, coatings tooling and packaging components.
• Knowledge of supplier quality systems, contract administration and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical skills, including data analysis, KPI development and performance reporting.
• Understanding of inventory carrying costs, working capital management and procurement related financial metrics.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop team members.
• Strong project management, prioritization and decision-making skills.
• Ability to drive accountability and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• Skilled at presenting recommendations and procurement strategies to senior leadership.
• Ability to identify supply chain risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Strong troubleshooting, root-cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Proactive approach to resolve supplier, inventory and material availability issues.