Procurement Manager

Translucent Solar; Summerville (SC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Translucent Solar is seeking a Procurement Manager to lead sourcing, supplier management, inventory planning, and logistics coordination. You will develop strategies to ensure material availability, optimize total cost, and drive supplier performance.

You will collaborate with operations, engineering, finance and sales to meet demand while maintaining quality and cost competitiveness. The role emphasizes leadership, negotiation, and strategic sourcing across domestic and international suppliers,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 5–10 years of progressive procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or sourcing experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience negotiating supplier contracts and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies that support growth and financial goals.
• Source domestic and international suppliers for raw materials and indirect purchases.
• Lead RFx processes, supplier selection, contract negotiations, and onboarding.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, delivery schedules, warranties, and long-term agreements.
• Manage annual procurement spending and pursue cost savings initiatives.
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs and conduct business reviews.
• Coordinate with cross‑functional teams to ensure material availability.
• Lead and develop purchasing personnel and establish department goals.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Strategic sourcing

ERP/MRP

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in SCM or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Procurement Manager is responsible for leading the organization's procurement, strategic sourcing, inventory planning, supplier management, logistics coordination, and material planning functions. This role ensures the uninterrupted supply of raw materials, components, equipment, and indirect goods while optimizing total cost, inventory investment, supplier performance, and operational efficiency.

The Procurement Manager develops sourcing strategies, negotiates supplier agreements, manages purchasing activities, supports production planning, and collaborates across operations, engineering, finance, quality, and sales to ensure materials are available to meet customer demand while maintaining cost competitiveness and quality standards.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute procurement strategies that support company growth, manufacturing objectives, and financial goals.
• Source domestic and international suppliers for raw materials, components, packaging, equipment, and indirect purchases.
• Lead competitive bidding (RFQ/RFP/RFIs), supplier selection, contract negotiations, and supplier onboarding.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery schedules, warranties, and long-term supply agreements.
• Manage annual procurement spending while achieving cost savings initiatives.
• Identify alternate suppliers to reduce supply chain risk and improve sourcing flexibility.
• Monitor commodity markets and pricing trends affecting purchased materials.
• Develop strategic partnerships with key suppliers.
• Measure supplier performance using KPIs including:
• On-Time Delivery
• Quality Performance
• Lead Time
• Capacity
• Conduct supplier business reviews.
• Resolve supplier quality and delivery issues.
• Support supplier audits and qualification activities.

Procurement Operations

• Oversee purchasing activities from requisition through purchase order issuance and receipt.
• Ensure purchase orders are accurate and issued in accordance with procurement policies.
• Monitor supplier acknowledgements and shipment schedules.
• Coordinate expedited shipments when necessary.
• Ensure purchasing records and ERP data remain accurate.
• Maintain purchasing procedures and internal controls.

Demand Planning & Material Planning

• Collaborate with Sales, Production Planning, and Operations to forecast material requirements.
• Translate demand forecasts into purchasing plans.
• Develop inventory replenishment strategies.
• Balance inventory investment with customer service objectives.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and recommend improvements.

Inventory Management

• Optimize inventory levels while minimizing stock-outs and excess inventory.
• Safety Stock
• Reorder Points
• Economic Order Quantities (EOQ)
• Improve inventory turns.
• Reduce obsolete and slow-moving inventory.
• Participate in cycle counts and physical inventory activities.

Logistics & Transportation

• Coordinate inbound transportation and supplier deliveries.
• Work with freight carriers, customs brokers, and logistics providers.
• Optimize freight costs while maintaining service levels.
• Monitor shipping performance and delivery metrics.
• Support warehouse efficiency initiatives.

Cost Management

• Identify and implement cost reduction initiatives.
• Conduct total cost of ownership analyses.
• Evaluate make-versus-buy opportunities.
• Reduce transportation costs.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Identify supply chain risks related to:
• Capacity constraints
• Geopolitical events
• Tariffs
• Material shortages
• Ensure business continuity strategies are maintained.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner closely with:

• Production
• Manufacturing
• Quality Assurance
• Finance
• Planning
• Warehouse Operations to ensure procurement activities align with production schedules, customer demand, inventory objectives, and financial targets.

Leadership

• Lead and develop purchasing and procurement personnel.
• Establish department goals and performance metrics.
• Conduct employee coaching, performance evaluations, and development planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and ethical sourcing standards.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Purchase Price Variance (PPV)
• Annual Cost Savings
• Inventory Turns
• Inventory Accuracy
• Supplier Quality Performance (PPM)
• Purchase Order Cycle Time
• Material Availability
• Forecast Accuracy
• Stock-Out Frequency
• Procurement Budget Compliance

Educational Requirements:

·Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.

·5–10 years of progressive procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or sourcing experience.

·Minimum of 3 years of leadership or supervisory experience.

·Experience negotiating supplier contracts and managing strategic supplier relationships.

·Experience with ERP/MRP systems in a manufacturing environment.

·Strong analytical and financial acumen.

Work environment:

This position operates in both an office and manufacturing environment. Regular interaction with production personnel, warehouse operations, suppliers, and executive leadership is required. Occasional travel to supplier locations and customer facilities may be necessary.