Manager of Purchasing & Inventory Planning

AAA Mountain West Group; Walnut Creek (CA); Hybrid; USD 132,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Medical, Dental, Vision

Paid holidays

Paid time off + volunteer time

Tuition reimbursement

Hybrid work model

Job summary

AAA Mountain West Group in Walnut Creek, CA is seeking a Manager of Purchasing and Inventory Planning to lead our Purchasing team and oversee end-to-end procurement, optimizing inventory strategies to meet organizational goals.

This role requires strong data analysis, leadership experience, and ERP expertise (Workday), with a focus on reducing carrying costs while maintaining product availability. The position offers a hybrid work model with three onsite days per week in Walnut Creek.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, inventory planning, or supply chain operations.
• 2+ years of leadership or people management experience.

Responsibilities

• Inventory Planning & Forecasting: Develop inventory strategies to optimize stock levels and minimize carrying costs.
• Requisition & Purchase Order Management: Oversee the PO lifecycle and drive strategic sourcing.
• Supplier Relationship & Performance Management: Manage supplier vetting, KPIs, and SLAs.
• Leadership & Communication: Mentor teams and report supply chain health and cost savings to stakeholders.

Skills

Purchasing policies

Inventory management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in SCM/Business/Finance

Tools

Workday ERP

Excel

Tableau/PowerBI

Job description

Why Work For Us? Great Pay - opportunity to participate in AAA discretionary annual incentive plan or other incentive plans depending upon position 401k Matching – $1 for $1 company match up to 6% of eligible earnings per pay period

• Benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, wellness program and more!
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off – Team Members accrue paid time off monthly. Depending on position, an additional 24 hours per year are earmarked for volunteer activities.
• Collaborative Environment – AAA will value your contribution to providing exceptional service to our members
• Free AAA Classic Membership
• AAA Product Discounts
• Tuition Reimbursement Program .

At AAA, our Team Members strive to deliver amazing service and help our Members outsmart life’s roadblocks. We believe everything you do outside of work adds to who you are at work. NOTE: This role is hybrid and requires 3 days onsite in our Walnut Creek, CA office. Visits to our warehouse locations (Sacramento, Concord or Phoenix, AZ) are required monthly.

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager of Purchasing and Inventory Planning provides strategic leadership to the Purchasing team, overseeing complex supply chain operations and inventory strategies. This position is responsible for managing the end-to-end purchasing lifecycle while balancing inventory levels to meet organizational demands. The Manager analyzes procurement & sales data, forecasts inventory needs, optimizes supplier performance, and ensures audit readiness, while mentoring team members and aligning purchasing practices with corporate goals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Inventory Planning & Forecasting Lead the development and execution of inventory management strategies to optimize stock levels and minimize carrying costs. Analyze demand patterns and supply chain data to develop accurate purchasing forecasts, ensuring product availability while preventing overstock.

Requisition & Purchase Order Management Oversee the enterprise-wide Requisition and Purchase Order (PO) lifecycle, setting standards for accuracy, pricing, and compliance across the department. Drive strategic sourcing initiatives, ensuring high-value procurement projects align with company objectives.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management Direct the corporate supplier vetting protocol, ensuring strict adherence to financial, cybersecurity, and ESG standards. Evaluate supplier performance through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and manage strategic relationships to ensure contract compliance and service level agreements (SLAs) are exceeded.

Leadership & Communication Lead, mentor, and develop a team of purchasing professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. Serve as the primary point of contact for cross-functional stakeholders, providing insights into supply chain health, cost savings, and operational efficiency.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of purchasing policies, inventory management methodologies, and supply chain best practices.
• Strong proficiency in ERP/eProcurement systems (e.g., Workday) and advanced data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau/PowerBI).
• Ability to synthesize complex data into actionable strategies; demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams and high-stakes supplier negotiations.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE / COMPETENCIES / CERTIFICATIONS / LICENSES

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in purchasing, inventory planning, or supply chain operations.
• 2+ years of leadership or people management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or relevant certification (e.g., CSCP, CPIM).
• Advanced experience with ERP SaaS platforms, contract lifecycle management, and enterprise inventory systems.

#LI-VB1 #VIC_RX

Compensation Range: Min: $132,465.00 - Mid: $165,580.00

Welcome to AAA Mountain West Group (MWG), serving Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Alaska, Wyoming, and Montana. We believe our team should make their mark: over every mile and at every moment, we pride ourselves at helping our Members outsmart life’s obstacles. We are a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that has served our Members for over a century: from our legendary roadside assistance and award‑free