Purchasing Manager

Job Title: Purchasing Manager
General Overview:
Catalyst Acoustics Group is looking for a Purchasing Manager who will be responsible for planning, negotiating, and purchasing direct materials associated with production as well as indirect material. Metrics include quality, on-time delivery, vendor development and management, maintaining optimum inventory levels and negotiating cost effective pricing. This position will also have supervisory duties over the purchasing department employees. This position will be based out of the Catalyst Acoustics Group North Aurora Manufacturing Campus in North Aurora, IL.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible to manage employees engaged in purchasing activities.
• Hire, train, assist employees, enforce company policies, establish performance standards, evaluate employee status.
• Formulate, direct, and participate in development and implementation of goals and objectives for the purchasing department.
• Coordinate purchasing policies and common vendors with all company functions to secure uniform and competitive pricing.
• Develop and manage a select supplier base able to provide competitive quality products on time.
• Develop blanket orders for production materials with releases to limit company liability.
• Develop secondary sources of supply where applicable.
• Monitor inventory parameters and implement changes as necessary to achieve company objectives.
• Investigate new developments in material and supplies to reduce cost and improve quality.
• Perform competitive analysis regarding competitors' sources.
• Stay abreast of current procurement techniques and educate suppliers as well as internal departments to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Expedite orders as necessary.
• Investigate product or service delays and quality issues and communicate to appropriate departments to ensure production and project managers receive updates.
• Survey current and prospective suppliers per policy.
• Prepares standard and ad hoc reports to assess and communicate purchasing progress and metrics.
• Maintains purchasing documentation for billing and reference.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Must be detailed orientated, willing to work in a fast-paced environment, organized, able to plan effectively, prioritize, and multi-task.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Visual ERP software knowledge (preferred however not required, if not Visual, past experience with using an ERP system is required)
• Proven proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Maintains appropriate levels of optimism and enthusiasm.
• Exhibits Proactive nature in day-to-day activities.
• High level of pride in one’s work
• Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and customer focus approach.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Uses a clear, professional, and concise communication style, listens well, does not interrupt others.
• Bi-Lingual English & Spanish a plus however not required.

Educational/Experience Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Materials Management or related field required. A minimum of 5 years of direct material purchasing experience. APICS certification is a plus, however not required. Ability to learn a diverse engineered product line. Must possess the ability to see the “big” picture and lead by example.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to communicate with internal and external customer to be able to perform their duties and responsibilities successfully. Specific vision abilities are required to perform their duties and responsibilities successfully; examples include close vision, distance vision, computer/tablet screens, color distinction.
Work Environment:
The work environment described here are representative of those that an employee will encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position will have a base working schedule of Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. Extended daily hours may be required depending on production demand. The person working in this position will move back and forth from an office and production floor environments daily. Always maintain company safety standards regarding required personnel protective equipment usage, and safe working practices.
We offer excellent benefits to eligible employees, including 401(k), holidays, vacations and more. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: Multiple Locations