Strategic Purchaser

Management Performance Associates; Lakewood Township (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Management Performance Associates is seeking a market-driven Strategic Purchaser to manage and grow our e-commerce and dropship purchasing program. This role goes beyond routine reorders, requiring keen market insight, supplier network development, and decisive ownership of purchases from start to finish.

You’ll monitor market trends, negotiate favorable terms, optimize stock levels, and collaborate with sales and cross-functional teams to maximize margins and minimize risk.

Qualifications

• Strong market instincts and ability to identify and negotiate deals.
• Ability to act quickly, make independent decisions, and take responsibility for results.
• Strong supplier relationships and understanding of margins, inventory turns, cash flow, and risk.
• Organized, analytical, and able to communicate purchasing decisions clearly.
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to scale the purchasing operation.
• Experience in product trading, collector or closeout stock, or e-commerce sourcing is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Stay on top of market pricing, product trends, promotions, and supply and demand; understand broader market value.
• Decide when to buy, wait, or pass on a deal, and determine appropriate stock quantities.
• Build and maintain a broad network of direct distributors, wholesalers, traders, and other reliable suppliers.
• Maintain regular supplier relationships, develop multiple sourcing options, and negotiate pricing and terms.
• Take ownership of the financial outcome of each purchase, including after inventory arrives.
• Monitor inventory, sales trends, market prices, and product movement; decide when to hold, reduce prices, or clear stock.
• Coordinate with sales, purchasing, and other teams before buying and when inventory needs to be sold through.
• Communicate key purchases, market changes, inventory risks, and selling opportunities; explain expected outcomes, risks, and backup plans.

Skills

Market instincts

Independent decision making

Supplier relationships

Inventory management

Analytical skills

Communication

Collaboration

Sourcing knowledge

Job description

About the Role We’re looking for a smart, market-driven Strategic Purchaser to manage and grow our e-commerce and dropship purchasing program. This is not a typical purchasing role where you simply reorder products from a price list. We work with leading consumer electronics brands in a market where pricing, availability, and opportunities constantly change. Success requires knowing the market, building strong supplier relationships, recognizing good deals, and buying at the right price and time. We’re looking for someone who thinks independently, spots opportunities, makes smart decisions, and takes ownership of purchases from beginning to end.

What You’ll Do

• Stay on top of market pricing, product trends, promotions, and supply and demand, understand broader market value.
• Decide when to buy, wait, or pass on a deal, and determine appropriate stock quantities.
• Use promotions, special pricing, and market opportunities to improve margins while managing risk and available capital.
• Build and maintain a broad network of direct distributors, wholesalers, traders, and other reliable suppliers.
• Maintain regular supplier relationships, develop multiple sourcing options, and negotiate competitive pricing and terms.
• Take ownership of the financial outcome of each purchase, including after inventory arrives.
• Monitor inventory, sales trends, market prices, and product movement; decide when to hold, reduce prices, or clear stock-even at a loss when appropriate.
• Use personal selling outlets, our e-commerce program, and Connect’s other teams and channels to move inventory.
• Identify new brands, products, and trends.Test opportunities in controlled quantities and decide what to expand or discontinue.
• Find additional revenue and profit opportunities beyond everyday replenishment.
• Coordinate with sales, purchasing, and other teams before buying and when inventory needs to be sold through.
• Communicate key purchases, market changes, inventory risks, and selling opportunities; clearly explain expected outcomes, risks, and backup plans.
• Maintain clear records of suppliers, pricing, inventory, tests, and purchasing results, while making independent decisions collaboratively.

Requirements

• Strong market instincts and a natural drive to identify and negotiate deals.
• Ability to act quickly, make independent decisions, and take responsibility for results.
• Strong supplier relationships and understanding of margins, inventory turns, cash flow, and risk.
• Organized, analytical, and able to communicate purchasing decisions clearly.
• Collaborative mindset and willingness to share information and help scale the purchasing operation.
• A plus: experience in product trading, collector or closeout stock, retail arbitrage, or other e-commerce sourcing and resale models.

What Success Looks Like

• Success is not measured by how much you buy or how many orders you fill. It is measured by how competitively you buy, how well inventory performs, how effectively you manage risk, and how much value you create for Connect.
• We want someone who buys like a trader, manages inventory like a business owner, and works as part of a team.