Production Planning, Inventory and Procurement Manager

PL Custom Emergency Vehicles; Manasquan (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

PL Custom Emergency Vehicles seeks an experienced procurement leader to oversee planning, scheduling, and purchasing across three locations. You will coordinate with production, engineering, and finance to ensure a smooth flow of goods and services while driving strategic sourcing and cost optimization.

The role requires a strong track record in vendor negotiations, KPI-driven management, and ERP system expertise to enhance efficiency and assurance of supply chain integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and/or 10 years in purchasing or supply chain management.
• Minimum of 5 years managerial experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a team responsible for planning, scheduling, and purchasing, coordinating with production, engineering and finance.
• Lead purchasing operations across three locations, driving strategic sourcing initiatives and vendor negotiations for maximum value.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies, conduct cost analyses, and set benchmarks for improvement.
• Negotiate contracts and terms with suppliers to ensure best value and quality standards.
• Identify supplier risks and implement mitigation procedures to prevent shortages and delays.
• Monitor procurement budgets, spend, and cost reduction initiatives while ensuring policy compliance.
• Oversee inventory levels to optimize stock and minimize carrying costs.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations and implement improvement plans as needed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Procurement strategy

Cost analysis

Vendor negotiations

Contract terms

KPIs

Team leadership

Ethical compliance

EPICOR ERP

Excel

Inventory optimization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in purchasing/supply chain

Tools

Microsoft Excel

EPICOR ERP

Job description

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Oversee a team responsible for planning/scheduling/purchasing and delegates tasks, and collaborate with other departments like production, engineering and finance to ensure a smooth flow of goods and services.

Lead and oversee purchasing operations for all three locations, driving strategic sourcing initiatives, vendor negotiations, and cost optimization to achieve maximum value for the organization.

• Develop and implement procurement strategies that align with organizational goals. Conduct cost analyses and set benchmarks for improvement.
• Locate and evaluate potential vendors, negotiate contracts, and maintain strong, long-term relationships. Ensure all vendors meet quality and ethical standards.
• Manage the entire purchasing process, from preparing purchase orders to negotiating favorable contract terms and prices.
• Identify and assess potential risks in the supply chain and develop procedures to mitigate losses from issues like product shortages or delivery delays.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with legal, regulatory, and internal policies. Monitor and audit activities to ensure adherence to quality standards.
• Manage procurement department budgets, monitor spending, and implement cost reduction strategies.
• Monitor inventory levels to ensure optimal stock availability while minimizing associated costs.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations and implement improvement plans as needed.
• Additional duties as needed and assigned.

Supervisory responsibilities:

·This position will be responsible for providing direction to a team of employees as well as assisting in the hiring, managing and supervising in growing the departments as needed.

Skills and qualifications:

• Ability to see the big picture and align procurement with overall business objectives.
• Capable of conducting cost analyses, market analysis, and performance reviews using key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Proficiency in negotiating contracts and terms with suppliers to achieve the best value.
• Strong verbal and written communication to collaborate with internal teams and manage vendor expectations.
• Experience guiding and motivating a team to achieve departmental and organizational goals.
• A strong commitment to ethical practices and adherence to legal and regulatory standards.
• Specializing in Microsoft Excel and ERP (EPICOR) systems. Adept at analyzing large datasets, automating reports, and optimizing workflows through ERP integration. Proven ability to enhance efficiency and accuracy in supply chain and production planning processes.

Education and/or experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or 10 years in purchasing or supply chain management is required.
• Minimum of 5 years managerial experience.