Purchasing Specialist

Goliath; Norristown (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Health, dental, and vision Insurance

Life insurance

Flexible spending and health savings

Job summary

Goliath, a global toy and game manufacturer, is seeking a Purchasing Specialist to support sourcing for manufacturing operations.

You will manage MRO and raw material purchasing, negotiate terms, and coordinate with Maintenance, Production, and Quality to ensure material availability and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or buyer experience in manufacturing
• Experience negotiating supplier pricing and commercial terms
• Experience purchasing MRO materials, parts, supplies, and/or services
• Knowledge of purchase orders, inventory management, lead times, and supplier management
• Experience evaluating suppliers and quotes on price, quality, lead time
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems; Fishbowl is a plus
• Strong communication and analytical skills
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or related field preferred

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day purchasing for raw materials, components, packaging, MRO, equipment, and services
• Negotiate pricing, discounts, payment terms, lead times, freight, and minimum orders
• Identify cost-saving opportunities via bidding, negotiations, and alternate sourcing
• Maintain supplier relationships and qualify new suppliers as needed
• Evaluate supplier quotes based on total cost, quality, lead time, and availability
• Support supplier selection and sourcing for products and new launches
• Monitor supplier performance and address pricing, quality, delivery issues
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal teams to minimize production disruption
• Prepare and issue purchase orders based on demand and lead times
• Track open orders and follow up to ensure on-time delivery
• Expedite or modify orders as needed
• Maintain supplier and pricing data in Fishbowl
• Maintain and reconcile Monday inventory counts in Fishbowl
• Review inventory trends to anticipate future needs
• Request samples and certifications as required
• Resolve three-way matching discrepancies between POs, receipts, and invoices
• Collaborate with Production, Maintenance, Quality, and Finance to align purchasing with needs
• Communicate shortages, delays, and price changes to stakeholders
• Support new product introductions with supplier quotes and material availability
• Maintain purchasing documentation and supplier records
• Support continuous improvement in purchasing processes
• Take on special projects as assigned

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Inventory planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain

Tools

Fishbowl

ERP/MRP systems

Excel

Job description

Goliath is an international manufacturer and distributor of toys and games, operating in 15 countries and reaching over 100 countries worldwide. At the heart of our business is a belief in great products and the magic of innovation. Our mission is to bring fun to every household, which we achieve through teamwork and clever collaboration.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Specialist to support purchasing and sourcing activities for our manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for sourcing materials, supplies, MRO items, and services; negotiating pricing and commercial terms; managing supplier relationships; and ensuring materials are available to support production requirements.

The ideal candidate brings hands‑on purchasing experience within a manufacturing environment, including experience with MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations) purchasing, supplier negotiations, purchase order management, and inventory planning. This individual should be comfortable working directly with vendors, comparing sourcing options, challenging costs, and proactively identifying opportunities to improve pricing, lead times, availability, and supplier performance.

This is a hands‑on purchasing role requiring strong commercial judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to balance cost, quality, inventory, and production requirements in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Manage day‑to‑day purchasing activities for raw materials, components, packaging, supplies, MRO materials, equipment, and services required to support manufacturing operations
• Negotiate with suppliers on pricing, discounts, payment terms, lead times, freight, minimum order quantities, and other commercial terms
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities through competitive bidding, supplier negotiations, alternate sourcing, volume consolidation, and improved purchasing terms
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers while identifying and qualifying new suppliers as needed
• Obtain and evaluate supplier quotes based on total cost, quality, lead time, availability, and business requirements
• Support supplier selection and sourcing strategies for existing products, operational requirements, and new product launches
• Monitor supplier performance and address issues related to pricing, quality, delivery, availability, and service
• Partner with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve quality or delivery issues and minimize disruption to production

Manufacturing & MRO Purchasing

• Purchase MRO materials and services necessary to support facility, equipment, and production operations, including maintenance parts, tools, supplies, replacement components, and other operational requirements
• Work closely with Maintenance, Operations, Production, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to understand purchasing priorities and anticipate upcoming material needs
• Source urgent or hard‑to‑find parts and supplies to minimize equipment downtime and production interruptions
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels for critical MRO and non‑inventory items while balancing availability against excess inventory and carrying costs
• Establish and maintain reorder point (ROP) processes for frequently used supplies and critical operational items

Purchase Order & Inventory Management

• Prepare and issue purchase orders based on demand, inventory levels, vendor pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, and production requirements
• Track open purchase orders and proactively follow up with suppliers to ensure materials arrive according to production schedules
• Expedite, push out, cancel, or modify purchase orders as business requirements change
• Maintain accurate supplier, item, pricing, lead‑time, minimum‑order, and purchasing information within Fishbowl
• Maintain and reconcile Monday inventory counts in Fishbowl and investigate discrepancies as needed
• Review inventory levels and purchasing trends to anticipate future supply requirements and help prevent shortages or excess inventory
• Request samples, specifications, certifications, and other supplier documentation required by Operations, Quality, Product Integrity, or other departments
• Resolve three‑way matching discrepancies between purchase orders, receipts, and supplier invoices

Cross‑Functional Support

• Partner with Production, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and other departments to align purchasing activities with operational needs
• Communicate potential shortages, supplier delays, pricing changes, and other supply risks to appropriate stakeholders
• Support new product introductions and operational projects by identifying suppliers, obtaining quotes, negotiating pricing, and coordinating material availability
• Maintain accurate purchasing documentation and supplier records
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to purchasing processes, inventory management, supplier performance, and cost reduction
• Take on special projects and other duties as assigned

Requirements

• 3+ years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or buyer experience, preferably within a manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience negotiating supplier pricing and commercial terms
• Experience purchasing MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations) materials, parts, supplies, and/or services in support of manufacturing operations
• Working knowledge of purchase orders, inventory management, supplier management, lead times, reorder points, and manufacturing supply requirements
• Experience sourcing and evaluating suppliers and comparing quotes based on price, quality, lead time, and service
• Experience working with ERP, MRP, or inventory management systems; Fishbowl experience is a plus
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Strong analytical, organizational, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with suppliers and cross‑functional teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond quickly to changing production and operational requirements
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant purchasing and manufacturing experience will also be considered

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to occasionally lift, push, or carry items weighing up to 25 lbs
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods
• Ability to perform activities that may include bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, climbing, handling, and inspecting materials or equipment
• Ability to effectively communicate with employees, suppliers, and other business partners
• This position operates within a manufacturing environment and may occasionally be exposed to noise, vibration, mechanical or electrical equipment, fumes, odors, and other conditions typical of a production facility

Benefits

• 401(k) with company matching
• Health, dental, and vision insurance to keep you covered
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts to manage your healthcare costs
• Paid time off to recharge when you need it
• Join a fun, dynamic and creative industry—working with toys and games brings its own rewards