Purchasing & Inventory Specialist

MKT Metal Manufacturing; York (York County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

MKT Metal Manufacturing in York, PA and Wilson, NC seeks a Senior Purchasing and Inventory professional to lead supplier relationships, negotiate pricing, and ensure material availability across both sites.

You will oversee purchase orders, vendor performance, cycle counts, and ERP-driven processes, collaborating with Operations, Finance, and Estimating to optimize costs and ensure on‑time delivery of ductwork components.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of purchasing, supply chain, or inventory control experience.
• Hands‑on experience with vendor management, pricing negotiation, and inventory reconciliation.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier selection, vendor relationships, and performance reviews; maintain alternate sources for critical materials.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, delivery commitments and purchasing agreements; assess total cost, quality, availability and service.
• Oversee purchasing of production materials, shop supplies, and operational consumables with production requirements.
• Establish PO controls, approvals, outstanding orders, and delivery risk monitoring; support staff and interns.
• Manage supply organization, storage locations, stock availability, reorder points; standardize supplies across plants.

Skills

Vendor management

Excel

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain/Business/Operations

CPIM/CSCP certification

Tools

ERP system

Job description

MKT Metal Manufacturing has been a trusted provider of precision-fabricated HVAC ductwork since 2004. With cutting-edge facilities in York, PA, and Wilson, NC, we deliver high-quality sheet metal ductwork for commercial and industrial projects across the East Coast. Our products, including spiral, rectangular, and oval ductwork, are renowned for their precision, performance, and durability. At MKT, we prioritize quality, fast turnaround, install-ready solutions, and on-time delivery, ensuring we meet the needs of contractors every time. More than just an HVAC manufacturer, MKT strives to build trust through exceptional service and reliability.

Position Summary:

Lead purchasing, vendor management, supplier pricing, shop supplies, and inventory control across MKT’s York and Wilson operations. This role manages material availability, competitive purchasing costs, inventory accuracy, and a disciplined cycle count program. Works closely with Operations, Production, Finance, and Estimating to control costs and support reliable customer delivery.

Essential Duties and Key Responsibilities:

Vendor Management and Supplier Pricing

• Lead supplier selection, vendor relationships, and performance reviews; maintain alternate sources for critical materials and supplies.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, delivery commitments, and purchasing agreements; compare total cost, quality, availability, and service.
• Maintain accurate supplier pricing and communicate material cost changes to Finance and Estimating.
• Resolve late deliveries, shortages, quality concerns, and invoice discrepancies, track supplier commitments through resolution.

Purchasing and Material Availability

• Lead purchasing of production materials, shop supplies, and operational consumables in coordination with production requirements.
• Maintain purchase order controls, follow approval requirements, and monitor outstanding orders and delivery risks.
• Oversee and support purchasing staff and interns, as assigned; establish clear priorities and accountability.

Shop Supplies Management

• Manage supply organization, storage locations, stock availability, and replenishment; establish minimum and maximum levels and reorder points.
• Track usage and spending to reduce waste, duplicate purchases, and unnecessary stock; standardizing supplies across plants where practical.
• Work with Finance to classify items consistently as production inventory, shop supplies, or other appropriate accounts.

Inventory Control and Cycle Counts

• Manages inventory accuracy for raw materials, purchased components, and stocked supplies.
• Establish and lead a documented cycle count program with scheduled counts, assigned responsibilities, and discrepancy follow‑up.
• Investigate inventory variances, document root causes, and implement corrective actions to prevent recurring errors.
• Ensure receipts, transfers, issues, returns, and approved adjustments are recorded accurately and promptly.
• Coordinate physical inventories and reconcile results with Finance; maintain clear item descriptions, units of measure, and storage locations.
• Identify excess, obsolete, slow‑moving, and damaged inventory and recommend disposition.

Reports and Process Improvement

• Maintain a scorecard for inventory accuracy, cycle count completion, stockouts, supplier delivery performance, purchasing savings, and shop supplies spending.
• Use Excel and ERP data to analyze trends, improve replenishment, and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Document purchasing, receiving, replenishment, and inventory control procedures lead improvements that prevent production interruptions .
• Support ERP implementation and process improvement.

Other Tasks Assigned

Qualifications:

Required

• Three or more years of purchasing, supply chain, or inventory control experience, preferably in manufacturing.
• Demonstrated vendor management and pricing negotiation experience; hands‑on experience with inventory reconciliation and cycle counts.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis; experience using ERP or inventory management systems.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills; ability to lead improvements and hold teams accountable.

Preferred

• Experience purchasing sheet metal, steel, manufacturing components, or industrial supplies and supporting multiple manufacturing locations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience; CPIM, CSCP, or another relevant certification.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong negotiation and communication skills
• Analytical mindset with attention to cost and inventory accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Problem‑solving skills with a proactive approach to risk management

Physical Requirements:

• On‑site role with regular interaction throughout office, shop, and operational environments
• Work in varying environments including hot, cold, or noisy conditions.
• Use of PPE and adherence to all safety standards required.

Measures of Success

Accurate inventory records; timely cycle counts and variance resolution; fewer production shortages; competitive supplier pricing and documented savings; reliable supplier delivery; controlled shop supplies spending; and reduced excess inventory.