Strategic Purchasing Manager: Lead Supply Chain & Suppliers

GridBridge, Inc.; Greeneville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ERMCO in Greeneville, TN seeks a Purchasing Manager to lead strategic procurement for materials, components, and services. You will manage a team of buyers, build strong supplier partnerships, and drive procurement excellence to ensure material availability and cost competitiveness.

The role requires cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to sustain supply continuity and ethical sourcing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven experience in procurement supervision—ideally as a Purchasing, Buyer, or Expeditor Lead, Supervisor, or Manager.
• Strong negotiation, supplier contract management, and strategic sourcing skills.
• Knowledge of supply chain principles, procurement best practices, and vendor relations.
• Analytical mindset with experience in cost analysis and procurement forecasting.
• Experience with sourcing tools, ERP/procurement systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills. 8-D & 5 Why Root Cause Analysis is a plus.
• Experience in lean manufacturing & continuous improvement tools, Six Sigma is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies that ensure material availability, support production requirements, and optimize cost, quality, and lead-time performance.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the purchasing team by establishing clear goals, performance metrics, and accountability while fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Production, Engineering, Quality, Receiving, and Finance to support business objectives and drive supply chain performance.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen strategic supplier relationships, including driving a dual-source supplier strategy to enhance supply continuity, competitiveness, and risk mitigation.
• Negotiate supplier pricing, contracts, and commercial terms to maximize value, reduce risk, and achieve cost-saving objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance, market conditions, and industry trends to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, cost optimization, and supply assurance.
• Oversee the end-to-end procurement process, including purchase order management, supplier issue resolution, and compliance with company policies and ethical standards.
• Drive inventory optimization initiatives to maintain appropriate stock levels, reduce excess inventory and waste, and improve working capital performance.
• Lead vendor return, recovery, and escalation processes, including RMA management, supplier corrective actions, cost recovery, and expedited freight mitigation.
• Champion ethical sourcing, supplier diversity, and sustainable procurement practices across the supply base.
• Leverage ERP, MRP, procurement, and business intelligence systems to analyze data, monitor KPIs, improve decision-making, and enhance procurement effectiveness.
• Drive a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and operational excellence to deliver sustainable cost savings and long-term business value.

Skills

Procurement Leadership

Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Negotiation

ERP/Procurement Systems

Cost Analysis

Team Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

ERP Software

Job description

ERMCO in Greeneville, TN seeks a Purchasing Manager to lead strategic procurement for materials, components, and services. You will manage a team of buyers, build strong supplier partnerships, and drive procurement excellence to ensure material availability and cost competitiveness.

The role requires cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to sustain supply continuity and ethical sourcing.