Purchasing Manager

McKenna Labs Inc.; Fullerton (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Flexible spending accounts

Life and disability coverage

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

McKenna Labs Inc. is seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead procurement for a contract manufacturer of personal care and OTC products.

You will direct Buyers, drive supplier relationships, and ensure material availability to meet production schedules, customer demands, and growth objectives. The role requires 7+ years in purchasing with 3+ years of managerial experience, experience in regulated environments, and strong negotiation, analytical, and ERP skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years progressive purchasing/procurement/supply chain experience.
• 3+ years of management/supervisory experience leading purchasing professionals.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments (cosmetics/OTC/pharma) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with production needs and business goals.
• Oversee procurement of raw materials and indirect supplies.
• Ensure uninterrupted material supply to support schedules and commitments.
• Establish supplier relationships for quality, cost, reliability, and service.
• Lead supplier sourcing, onboarding, and performance management.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts to unlock cost savings.
• Monitor market trends and supply risks impacting costs.
• Supervise Buyers and purchasing staff; set goals and provide feedback.
• Drive continuous improvement in purchasing processes and systems.
• Collaborate with QA to ensure GMP/regulatory compliance.

Skills

Procurement principles

Supplier management

Contract negotiation

GMP knowledge

FDA regulations understanding

Leadership

ERP/MRP systems

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Supply Chain / Procurement or related field

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading and managing procurement activities for a contract manufacturer of personal care and over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical products. This position directs a team of Buyers and oversees the sourcing, procurement, inventory planning support, supplier management, contract negotiations, and continuous improvement of purchasing processes. The Purchasing Manager ensures uninterrupted supply of raw materials, indirect materials, and services while maintaining compliance with quality, regulatory, and customer requirements.

The Purchasing Manager works closely with Operations, Account Management, Packaging Supply Chain, Planning, Quality Assurance, Research & Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Finance to ensure materials are available to support production schedules, customer demands, and company growth objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Procurement Management

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies that support production requirements and business objectives.
• Oversee procurement of raw materials and indirect supplies.
• Ensure uninterrupted supply of materials to support manufacturing schedules and customer commitments.
• Establish and maintain appropriate supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost competitiveness, reliability, and service.
• Lead supplier sourcing, qualification, onboarding, and performance management activities.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, contracts, and supply agreements to achieve cost savings and favorable business terms.
• Monitor market trends, commodity pricing, supply risks, and industry developments impacting material availability and cost..
• Directly supervise Buyers and other purchasing personnel.
• Establish departmental goals, priorities, and performance expectations.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop purchasing staff.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing performance feedback.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate supplier performance using key metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, service levels, and cost.
• Lead supplier business reviews and corrective action initiatives when performance issues arise.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships to support long‑term business growth.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to ensure approved suppliers comply with applicable GMP and regulatory requirements.

Inventory and Materials Management

• Partner with Planning and Operations to maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing excess and obsolete inventory.
• Monitor inventory trends and purchasing activities to support working capital objectives.
• Participate in forecasting and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.
• Identify and mitigate material shortages and supply chain disruptions.

Compliance and Quality

• Ensure Purchasing activities comply with company policies and procedures.
• Support compliance with cGMP, FDA, customer, and regulatory requirements applicable to OTC pharmaceutical and personal care manufacturing.
• Participate in internal and external audits related to supplier qualification and procurement practices.
• Maintain accurate procurement records and documentation.
• Manage departmental budgets and purchasing expenditures.
• Identify and implement cost-reduction and cost-avoidance initiatives.
• Analyze purchasing data and prepare reports on supplier performance, cost savings, spend categories, and procurement trends.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting activities.
• Evaluate and improve procurement processes, systems, and controls.
• Drive operational efficiencies through process improvements and system automation.
• Support ERP enhancements and purchasing system optimization initiatives.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and monitor departmental performance against established goals.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises Buyers and other purchasing team members.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable employment laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, training, assigning work, evaluating performance, rewarding employees, addressing complaints, and resolving operational issues.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Operations Management, or related field required.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive purchasing, procurement, or supply chain experience.
• Minimum 3 years of management or supervisory experience leading purchasing professionals.
• Experience in personal care, cosmetics, OTC pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, food, or other regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of procurement principles, supplier management, and strategic sourcing.
• Knowledge of GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Understanding of FDA regulations as they relate to OTC pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Strong contract negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Advanced proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to analyze purchasing data and identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvement.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Primarily office‑based environment within a manufacturing facility.
• Frequent interaction with production, warehouse, quality, and planning departments.
• Occasional travel may be required to support supplier visits, audits, trade shows, or business meetings.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and use standard office equipment for extended periods.
• Occasionally required to visit manufacturing and warehouse areas.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and electronically.

The compensation range for this role is $85,000 – $117,000 per year. Compensation is commensurate with level of knowledge, education, skills, and experience applicable to the position.

We understand that each team member’s situation is unique, and so it is our intent to offer an overall benefits package that can be shaped and molded by each individual to fit their family’s needs. Our current benefits package, which is available to all full‑time team members, includes medical, dental, vision insurance, 401k retirement plan, flexible spending accounts, life and disability coverage, and other voluntary benefits.

We want everyone to feel welcome, respected and we are committed to providing the best space, experience and workplace for our teams – no matter what race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, veteran or disability status and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us different.