Procurement Manager

Summit Products, Inc; Altoona (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Products, Inc. seeks a Procurement Manager to oversee purchasing activities, supplier relationships, cost analysis, and material planning across our manufacturing operations to meet production needs and delivery schedules.

The ideal candidate is analytical, proactive, and detail-oriented, able to manage complex purchasing decisions, build strong supplier relationships, and balance immediate production needs with long-term procurement goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in business, supply chain, or related field.
• 5+ years of procurement experience in manufacturing environments.
• Strong negotiation and supplier-management skills.
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day purchasing activities and coordinate priorities with departments.
• Develop sourcing strategies that meet production needs, quality, and cost objectives.
• Source and purchase raw materials, components, and services.
• Lead supplier negotiations on pricing, delivery, and terms.
• Monitor open purchase orders and coordinate expediting when needed.
• Coordinate purchasing updates with engineering, production, and accounting.
• Prepare reports on open orders, supplier performance, and savings opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Supplier-management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP software

Job description

The Procurement Manager is responsible for overseeing purchasing activities, supplier relationships, cost analysis, and material planning support across Summit Products' manufacturing operations. This position coordinates purchasing priorities, guides procurement processes, and ensures materials, components, equipment, supplies, and services meet production needs, quality requirements, and delivery schedules.

Reporting to the Business Operations Manager, this individual works closely with the purchasing team, accounting, production, engineering, quality, shipping, and receiving to align procurement activities with operational priorities. The Procurement Manager takes ownership of supplier performance, purchasing accuracy, cost-control initiatives, and process improvements while promoting accountability, collaboration, and clear communication.

The ideal candidate is an analytical, proactive, and detail-oriented professional who can manage complex purchasing decisions, build strong supplier relationships, and balance immediate production needs with long-term procurement goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Purchasing and Supplier Management

• Oversee day-to-day purchasing activities and coordinate priorities with the purchasing team and applicable departments.
• Develop and implement sourcing and purchasing strategies that support production needs, cost objectives, quality standards, and reliable supply.
• Source and purchase raw materials, components, equipment, supplies, and services based on approved requests and production requirements.
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotes, comparing pricing, quality, availability, lead times, freight costs, and payment terms.
• Lead supplier negotiations involving pricing, delivery schedules, payment terms, and other purchasing conditions within established approval limits.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and issuance of purchase orders to ensure accurate specifications, quantities, pricing, and delivery dates.
• Manage large, complex, or high-value purchases in coordination with management and applicable departments.
• Monitor open purchase orders, confirm supplier commitments, and coordinate expediting efforts when necessary.
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships, evaluate supplier performance, and address recurring delivery, quality, pricing, or service concerns.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop alternative suppliers to strengthen sourcing flexibility and reduce supply disruptions.
• Monitor market trends, pricing, material availability, and delivery conditions to anticipate purchasing needs and supply risks.

Cost Analysis and Financial Coordination

• Lead purchasing cost analyses and identify opportunities to reduce costs while maintaining quality and supply reliability.
• Analyze purchasing history, material costs, supplier quotes, and spending trends to guide sourcing decisions.
• Evaluate total purchasing costs, including unit prices, freight, minimum order quantities, discounts, and other applicable charges.
• Review supplier price increases, assess their operational and financial impact, and determine appropriate negotiation strategies or alternative purchasing options.
• Compare current purchase prices with established costs, previous purchases, and competing quotes; investigate significant variances.
• Prepare and present cost comparisons, spending summaries, and purchasing recommendations to management.
• Work with accounting to verify purchasing information, review cost variances, and support accurate cost records.
• Track and document negotiated savings and cost avoidance using company-approved methods.
• Partner with production, engineering, and quality to evaluate alternative materials or suppliers without compromising product requirements.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate purchases, improve order quantities, and reduce expedited freight or excess inventory costs.
• Coordinate with accounting and receiving to resolve purchase order, receipt, and invoice discrepancies.

Inventory, Materials, and Shipping Support

• Coordinate purchasing and material planning activities to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Review material requirements, inventory availability, and supplier lead times to guide purchasing decisions and address shortages.
• Partner with production and inventory personnel to balance material availability with inventory-control objectives.
• Ensure purchasing and inventory information for materials, components, and supplies is accurate and current.
• Identify slow-moving, excess, or obsolete materials and recommend purchasing adjustments.
• Support shipping coordination and process improvements that promote timely, accurate, and cost-effective shipments.
• Work with suppliers, receiving personnel, and shipping providers to resolve delivery delays, damaged shipments, and quantity discrepancies.
• Communicate material shortages, supplier delays, and other purchasing risks promptly, including recommended actions and potential impacts on production.

Data Accuracy and Manufacturing Support

• Oversee the accuracy and maintenance of the internal purchasing dashboard, including order details, vendors, quantities, pricing, discounts, and expected delivery dates.
• Ensure purchasing transactions, supplier information, and supporting documentation are accurate, complete, and current.
• Coordinate audits of bills of material (BOMs) and related manufacturing data, including BOM linkages, BOM types, and routings.
• Work with the appropriate departments to resolve discrepancies in part information, material requirements, and manufacturing records.
• Coordinate purchasing updates related to engineering changes, revised specifications, and new products.
• Prepare and review reports on open orders, supplier performance, purchasing costs, and savings opportunities.
• Use purchasing and supplier data to identify trends, monitor performance, and recommend operational improvements.

Team Coordination and Process Improvement

• Provide direction and support to the purchasing team regarding priorities, supplier communication, purchasing practices, and issue resolution.
• Coordinate purchasing responsibilities and follow up on commitments to support timely completion of departmental priorities.
• Lead sourcing projects, supplier evaluations, complex purchases, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Collaborate with the shop, front office, accounting, and management to improve workflows and cross-departmental communication.
• Recommend and help implement improvements to purchasing, shipping, and inventory-control procedures.
• Establish and maintain documented purchasing processes in coordination with management.
• Share purchasing knowledge and support team training to promote consistency and continuity.
• Ensure purchasing activities follow company policies, approval requirements, and documentation procedures.
• Manage changing priorities and communicate their impact on existing commitments.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Strong purchasing, supplier-management, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead procurement activities, coordinate team priorities, and drive assignments to completion.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate costs, interpret purchasing data, and develop practical recommendations.
• Sound judgment and the ability to balance cost, quality, delivery, and operational needs.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Effective time-management skills with the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving, critical-thinking, and decision-making abilities.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills with a positive, professional demeanor.
• Ability to independently manage complex assignments while collaborating effectively with other departments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data comparisons, and purchasing analysis.
• Experience using purchasing databases, inventory systems, or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
• Ability to understand manufacturing material requirements, bills of material, and related production documentation.
• Ability to handle supplier pricing and company purchasing information with discretion.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, or a related field preferred; an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will be considered.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible purchasing or procurement experience preferred, ideally in a manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience leading purchasing activities, coordinating team priorities, or managing procurement projects preferred.
• Experience with supplier negotiations, supplier performance management, cost analysis, inventory coordination, and complex purchasing transactions.
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes, production schedules, and material planning.
• Ability to develop a strong understanding of Summit Products' products, materials, and supplier requirements.

Work Environment

This position works in an office and manufacturing environment, with regular interaction on the shop floor and in shipping, receiving, and inventory areas. Employees must follow company safety procedures and wear required personal protective equipment in designated areas.