Purchasing Manager

SOMACIS; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SOMACIS is seeking a Purchasing Manager to lead procurement operations for its Poway plant, aligning with production needs and corporate policy.

You will drive strategic sourcing, supplier relationships, and cost optimization while ensuring accuracy, timely deliveries, and ERP data integrity across the supply chain.

The role demands strong leadership, ability to manage cross-functional stakeholders, and continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field required.
• 5–7 years of progressive procurement experience in manufacturing/industrial setting.
• At least 3 years in a supervisory/leadership role.
• Advanced proficiency with ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and data analytics tools (Excel).
• Strong leadership, negotiation, and knowledge of material planning workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead the plant's purchasing team to align with production requirements and corporate procedures.
• Oversee end-to-end PO lifecycle and maintain accurate MRPs signals and delivery confirmations.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for delivery performance, order accuracy, and procurement cycle times.
• Spearhead supplier evaluations, negotiations, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Drive risk mitigation, supplier diversity, and cost-optimization opportunities.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Material planning

ERP knowledge

Data analytics

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Excel

Job description

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading, strategic planning, and overseeing all day-to-day procurement operations to ensure a timely, accurate, and cost-effective supply of materials and services for the plant. This role balances high-level strategy; such as cost optimization, supplier relationship management, and ERP systems oversight with tactical leadership to ensure uninterrupted continuity of supply, workflow efficiency, and transactional excellence.

Essential Functions

1. Departmental Leadership & Operational Oversight

• Manage, mentor, and oversee the plant's purchasing team (including Buyers) to ensure all day-to-day procurement activities align with plant production requirements and corporate procedures.
• Oversee and audit the end-to-end purchase order (PO) lifecycle, ensuring Material Requirements Planning (MRP) signals are processed efficiently and accurately.
• Ensure team accountability regarding the timely receipt, registration, and tracking of supplier order confirmations and open delivery commitments.
• Establish, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) regarding delivery performance, order accuracy, and procurement cycle times.

2. Supply Chain Risk Management & Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as the ultimate escalation point for critical plant supply risks, material shortages, or operational disruptions.
• Develop and execute proactive risk-mitigation strategies to safeguard the plant's production continuity.
• Maintain transparent, high-level communication with cross-functional plant stakeholders (Planning, Production, Engineering, Quality, and Finance) regarding commercial issues, long-term supplier delays, or market volatility.

3. Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

• Act as the key operational and strategic point of contact for the plant’s critical or high-impact suppliers.
• Lead high-value or complex commercial negotiations, establishing favorable pricing structures, service level agreements (SLAs), and optimized delivery terms.
• Spearhead supplier performance evaluations, root-cause analyses for chronic delivery or quality deviations, and collaborative resolution of complex billing or invoice discrepancies.
• Identify localized cost-saving, cost-avoidance, and inventory optimization opportunities to drive bottom-line efficiency.

4. Systems, Compliance & Process Optimization

• Own the integrity and accuracy of all purchasing, pricing, and master data structures within the plant’s ERP system.
• Establish, standardize, and document compliant purchasing workflows and internal controls in alignment with corporate policy.
• Drive continuous improvement, digitalization, and automation initiatives within the local procurement function to eliminate operational inefficiencies.

5. Material Management & Logistics Fundamentals (working knowledge required):

• MRP/MPS execution: ability to interpret net requirements and exception messages, and to re-sequence open orders under shortage or capacity-constrained conditions.
• Inventory & buffer strategy: safety stock sizing, ABC/XYZ segmentation, reorder point/reorder quantity logic, and consignment stock arrangements for critical components.
• Allocation & constraint management: working knowledge of Available-to-Promise/Capable-to-Promise logic and experience prioritizing supply across plants or lines when suppliers impose allocation.
• Multi-region logistics (Asia-EU-US): practical command of Incoterms 2020, air vs. sea freight trade-offs, customs clearance timelines, and multimodal/consolidated shipment routing.
• Dual/multi-sourcing & risk mitigation: ability to qualify and activate alternate sources quickly without compromising quality standards, in line with corporate country-of-origin and supply risk guidelines.
• ERP Materials Management modules: hands-on experience with MM/WM (or equivalent) exception-driven planning views, beyond basic transactional use.

Marginal Functions

• Participate in plant leadership meetings, capital expenditure (CapEx) planning, and annual budgeting workflows.
• Perform other high-level administrative, auditing, or project-related duties as requested by executive leadership.

Required Qualifications & Physical Demands

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field (or equivalent blended professional experience).
• Experience: 5-7 years of progressive procurement experience in a manufacturing or industrial plant environment, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or leadership role.
• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency with modern enterprise ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and data analytics tools (e.g., advanced Microsoft Excel).
• Core Skills: Strong leadership presence, structured negotiation capabilities, and deep familiarity with material planning workflows.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Occasional presence on the manufacturing plant floor, requiring standard personal protective equipment (PPE).