Manager, Parts Purchasing

GILLIG; Hayward (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

GILLIG is seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead the aftermarket parts purchasing team for buses. You will mentor 7 buyers and one associate, optimize order flow, lead negotiations, and drive cost reductions while coordinating with stakeholders across supply chain. This role reports to the Director of Supply Chain.

The role emphasizes strategic roadmaps, supplier management, and process improvements to ensure timely delivery and high-quality parts availability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or related field or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic and operational roadmap for the team, including metrics and process improvements.
• Establish sources of supply, obtain quotations and bids for key materials.
• Lead a team of Buyers, ensuring performance, development, and mentorship.
• Create a path to support future parts organization and skills needs.
• Ensure timely delivery on orders and optimize stocking strategy.
• Collaborate with sales, warehouse, and other departments to prevent delays.
• Drive cost reductions with a detailed savings plan.
• Report cost savings to the supply chain director monthly.
• Standardize business review templates and drive supplier reviews.
• Improve routine workflows with automation and unified planning.
• Train on ERP/MRP/WMS use and act as SME.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Cost reduction

Project management

Change management

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

We are looking for aPurchasing Manager to lead our aftermarket parts purchasing team. You will oversee the fulfillment of components, spare parts, and kit items for buses. You will directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of 7 buyers and one associate buyer. Your primary focus will be ensuring smooth order flow through to the warehouses, reducing lead times, optimizing purchasing costs, stocking strategy, and optimizing material kitting strategies for our customers. As a working manager, you will purchase major groupings of materials and/or components from vendors, work on returns and reallocations, and be responsible for key component negotiations. You will be part of the organizational design and lead the team through the transformation. This role reports to the Director of Supply Chain.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL

• Develop strategic and operational roadmap for the team, lay out the tactical requirements to reach the future state to include associated metrics, and lead process improvement as well as change management
• Establish sources of supply, obtain quotations and bids, purchase important groupings of materials and/or components in accord with price, quality, and schedule objectives
• Lead a team of Parts Buyers, to ensure individual performance is enhanced, development and training is executed as well as overall mentorship of team
• Strategize the team’s future state, identify the needed skill sets, and create a path to support the parts organization for the future
• Ensure follow-up on orders placed by Parts Buyers for timely delivery in support of customer requirements
• Manage stocking strategies throughout the lifecycle of a component from initial stocking all the way through end-of-life last time purchase strategies
• Partner with parts sales, warehouse, and other departments to identify and prevent delays or inventory errors, or suggest substitutions, etc.
• Proactively pursue cost reductions for parts sales along with a detailed cost savings plan.
• Reports all parts purchasing cost savings activity to the supply chain director on a monthly cadence
• Develop a standardized baseline for business review template and be held accountable for supplier business reviews with identified suppliers
• Suggest and implement improvements to the routine workflow to increase efficiency, with a focus on automation
• Work with the Supply Chain Director to develop a unified planning strategy to support a high-mix, extended-time support period
• Monitor, evaluate, and improve purchasing metrics such as inventory turns, fill rate, quotations, etc.
• Become a subject-matter expert (SME) with the ability to guide and train on system use (ERP, MRP, WMS, etc.)
• Performs related duties as directed

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business, or related technical field is preferred or equivalent professional experience within the transit, transportation, or a comparable industry
• Minimum of 5 years purchasing/procurement leadership experience is required, previous experience working in a post-sales/spares function is a plus
• Proven process-driven leader with a hands-on approach to drive operational excellence and effectively managing supplier negotiations when needed
• Advanced oral and written communication skills
• Ability to successfully navigate and negotiate for company alignment
• Proven ability to manage and develop team members through performance management, goal setting as well as change management applications.
• Intermediate experience with SAP and/or Oracle preferably within a purchasing position at a medium-large company
• Experience with ERP implementation as both an end user and manager
• Experience in bus, automotive, or semiconductor industry preferred
• Previous warehouse management or operations experience is a plus

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Ability to lift 25 lbs.
• Prolonged periods of sitting/standing at a desk and working on a computer
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk and occasionally kneel or squat
• The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation
• Up to 10% of travel required (local and out of state)
• Must be able to navigate manufacturing environment, comfortable around heavy machinery, tools, etc.
• Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment, (i.e., safety glasses, bump caps, hearing protection, etc.)

EXPECTED COMPENSATION

$125,000 - $175,000/annual salary + premium benefits

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job classification, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

GILLIG is committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and respects the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of our employees and the people we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.