Purchasing Director - Millwork

Lumbermens Merchandising Corporation; Wayne (PA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading buying group for building materials in Pennsylvania is looking for a Purchasing Manager. The role involves managing a purchasing staff, developing comprehensive business plans, and ensuring effective purchasing/sales strategies. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree, significant experience in the lumber industry, and strong leadership skills. Competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field or equivalent work experience.
• 8-10 years of office experience, ideally in the lumber industry.
• 3-5 years of prior management experience in purchasing or sales.

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive business plans for the division.
• Manage a purchasing staff and improve performance through coaching.
• Prepare monthly sales forecasts for the department.

Skills

Leadership

Customer service

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Forest Products, Business Administration, Supply Line Management or Marketing

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

LMC is a leading buying group for a network of independent family-owned building material companies across the US. As their buying group, LMC negotiates and facilitates procurement opportunities for the most desired brands in the lumber and building materials industry. We also work to provide operational support with focus on logistics, capital equipment, technology, and marketing. By leveraging the billion-dollar buying power of our members, LMC ensures our members have a competitive edge to capture more of their local market share.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Works closely with Officers to develop comprehensive business plans for the division.
• Keeps the divisional VP informed on the status of all appropriate projects and purchasing/sales activities through periodic meetings and report preparation.
• Manages a purchasing staff that may include department managers, buyers/sales specialists, assistant buyers and category managers.
• Continuously improves the performance of the staff by providing periodic and timely coaching sessions and effectively implementing the LMC Performance Management Review System.
• Prepares and submits sales forecasts for their department on a monthly basis.
• Increases the purchasing by Dealers/Stockholders in LMC by supervising and implementing effective purchasing/sales strategies/programs and developing key relationships with the appropriate vendors.
• Ensures the retention of the current dealers/stockholders by providing the highest level of support and customer service to each dealer and solving dealer problems in a timely manner.
• Participates in all appropriate special programs to insure that optimal programs are obtained for LMC and the Dealer/customer. Programs may include special pricing, terms, corporate rebates and/ or delivery options.
• Locates vendors of materials, equipment or supplies, and interview them in order to determine new program viability.
• Analyzes market and delivery systems in order to assess present and future material availability.
• Develops and implement purchasing and contract management instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Represents the company in negotiating contracts and programs with suppliers.
• Develops, modifies and executes company policies which affect immediate operations.
• Participates in the selection and hiring process; interviews applicants and makes hire recommendations to divisional Vice President.
• Conducts performance evaluations and makes salary increase recommendations.
• Develops and trains staff to achieve corporate, divisional and departmental goals.
• Develops strong and professional relationships with existing dealers.
• Develops strong and professional relationships with key supplier personnel of existing vendors and new vendors.
• Work with the LMC Regional Sales Managers in the development of our existing LMC dealer base and assist in the development of new prospects to our dealer base.
• Identifies and solves dealer problems in the marketplace or with vendors.
• Assists purchasing and accounting staff with swift resolution of claims by dealers with vendor orders.
• Works with divisional VP in the participation and meeting process with the Building Materials Committee of LMC stockholder personnel.
• Responsible for growing and improving dealer market share of the responsible product lines they manage.
• Responsible for overseeing the operational and personnel administration of their department.
• Travel to dealer locations, dealer group meetings, vendor facilities and offices, industry trade shows and LMC functions are a mandatory requirement of this job.
• Performs other duties as required and/or assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Forest Products, Business Administration, Supply Line Management, Marketing or equivalent work experience.
• Eight (8) to ten (10) years related office experience, preferably in the lumber industry.
• Three (3) to five (5) years prior management experience, preferably in a retail, purchasing or sales capacity.
• Excellent leadership capabilities embodying mentoring, role modeling, coaching, and skill development.
• Excellent customer service focus and skill set.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with internal and external contacts, both in writing and verbally.
• Basic knowledge of computer programs including Excel, Word.
• Considerable Knowledge of the automated systems used by LMC and customer/dealers.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the co-op business and lumber/lumber yard industries is preferred.