Manager, Purchasing

Purchasing Manager

At Blueprint Automation, we design, develop and manufacture case packers and tray packing solutions for flexible and other tough-to-handle packages such as doypacks, pillow bags, and four-sided sealed bags. Built for around-the-clock operation, these solutions have a worldwide reputation for their quick change-over, flexibility, speed, and comprehensive design. Our Integrated state-of-the-art technologies include gravity, pick and place, wrap-around, and vision-guided robotics.

We are absolutely passionate about innovation. It adds the fun and inspiration to our work that people need to excel. Our customers stimulate innovation by developing new needs, and we are on a never-ending quest to find a better, simpler way. BPA has no innovation budget. Innovation is what we are.

We are looking for a Purchasing Manager to cover our South Chesterfield, VA and Longmont, CO locations.

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for managing and maintaining the best sources of supply for all components, materials, and services for the Blue Print Automation America division; both locations in South Chesterfield, VA and Longmont, CO. The Purchasing Manager considers all aspects of their relationship with suppliers, including quality, value, and the ability to respond quickly to changing supply requirements. This includes selecting suppliers that can act as long-term partners and help the company meet and exceed its growth objectives.

The position reports to the VP of Operations in VA with a dotted line to the VP of Operations in CO.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a preferred field of study in either procurement, business. However, a combination of significant experience in related fields combined with education will be taken into consideration.
• 10 Years of experience/skills related to Purchasing program management including the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• 3 years experience working in a manufacturing environment related to capital equipment construction
• 2 Years (minimum) experience working with SQL or similar database structures (Access, dBase, Oracle, etc.)
• Demonstrated critical thinking, project management, and written and verbal communications skills.
• Proficient computer skills in MS Office programs.
• Strong MS
  - Excel skills for data management and analysis (pivot tables, lookups, filtering, etc.)
• Strong relationship skills with excellent time management and follow-up skills.
• Must be self-directed and detail oriented with an inquisitive nature and the desire to solve problems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong work ethic with a positive, "can-do" attitude.
• Experience working with Kinetic ERP system.

Essential Functions:

• Provides leadership, development, mentoring, and coaching for the purchasing employees (currently
  4); at both the South Chesterfield, VA and Longmont, CO locations. Position will be based in either VA and with an average of 30% travel or CO with an average of 50% travel, will be required.
• Obtain the best price, lead time, ordering quantities, shipping terms, and delivery expectations. Aim to achieve cost reductions while maintaining or improving the quality of supplies and services while considering added values in the supply chain. Resolve compliance and invoice discrepancies.
• Identify the suppliers that are most important to the success of the company and negotiate long-term contracts that set out prices, quality standards, cost-reduction targets, delivery timescales, and commercial terms and conditions. Reviews with supplier's annual performance metrics and develops plan for improvement if necessary.
• Monitor the performance of suppliers against contractual standards and work with them to achieve continuous improvements in costs and performance.
• Review and generate purchase orders, based upon replenishment parameters derived from MRP, min-max parameters, and manual purchase order creation to meet expectations of stock availability and orders shipped on time.
• Maintain accuracy of purchase orders and part file pricing/ inventory within MRP to clearly communicate part availability and costs.
• Communicates defective or unacceptable products, services, equipment, and receipts with users, suppliers, or receiving to determine sources of problems and resolve disputes in an expedited manner.
• Negotiates and arranges the transport of goods with various means of carriers including international and expedited shipping.
• Resolves delivery discrepancies and maintains clear, timely communication to procurement customers (assembly, fabrication, aftermarket) on the progress of product deliveries. Monitors vendor return shelves, and assembly return carts to reduce the turn rate.
• Evaluates and works close with capacity and aftermarket players to maintain planning parameters to meet inventory expectations.
• Finds sources and negotiates…