Supply Chain & Purchasing Specialist

Supply Chain & Purchasing Specialist – SIGN-ON BONUS UP TO $4K

Full Time | Middleton, MA On-Site | $32 – $38 /hr Estimated pay.
Sign-On Bonus up to $4K.

The Supply Chain & Purchasing Specialist is responsible for end‑to‑end procurement, supplier management, material planning, and inventory oversight within our precision sheet metal manufacturing environment. This role ensures that materials, components, and outside services are sourced competitively, delivered on time, and aligned with production and customer requirements. It is a full‑time on‑site role with a focus on external suppliers, customer priority, and reporting to the Chief Operations Officer and leadership team.

• Source, negotiate, and procure all direct raw materials (sheet metal, hardware, fasteners), fabricated components, and outside processing services (e.g., plating, anodizing, painting) from approved suppliers.
• Issue purchase orders, manage order acknowledgments, and follow up proactively to resolve delays, pricing discrepancies, or delivery issues.
• Purchase MRO items including cutting tools, abrasives, lubricants, shop supplies, safety/PPE, janitorial supplies, office supplies, and general facility items, ensuring all products have Safety Data Sheets on file and are permissible to purchase.
• Obtain quotes, negotiate pricing, and place purchase orders for indirect materials, including spare parts or tooling for equipment.
• Maintain current pricing, vendor terms, and lead‑time data within the ERP system.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities through competitive bidding, supplier consolidation, or alternative sourcing.

• Review production schedules, job travelers, and BOM requirements to ensure material availability ahead of job release.
• Monitor and adjust inventory levels to balance production needs, cash‑flow targets, and storage constraints.
• Work closely with production, engineering, and quality teams to ensure smooth material flow across all operations.
• Track and report on supplier performance KPIs, including on‑time delivery, PPV, and supplier quality metrics.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers while identifying and qualifying new vendors.
• Conduct periodic supplier evaluations and contribute to supplier scorecards in partnership with the SMI Quality team.
• Collaborate with suppliers to resolve quality issues, expedite orders, discuss capacity constraints, and improve service.
• Develop and implement strategic sourcing initiatives (supplier‑managed inventory, kanbans, LEAN) to improve product flow and streamline work functions.

• Enter and maintain accurate ERP data for parts, materials, lead times, MOQ, safety stocks, and supplier information.
• Support annual and cycle inventory counts; reconcile discrepancies and drive root‑cause analysis.
• Review engineering change notices (ECNs) to ensure procurement implications are updated properly.
• Prepare purchasing and inventory‑related reports for management review.

• Partner with Engineering on new product introductions to forecast material requirements and develop sourcing strategies.
• Assist Production with job material shortages, expediting requests, and alternative sourcing as needed.
• Work closely with Finance to resolve invoice issues and support budgeting, forecasting, and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Stay up to date with industry regulations, standards, and best practices in sheet metal manufacturing.

• 5+ years of purchasing or supply‑chain experience in a manufacturing environment; precision sheet metal or job‑shop experience preferred.
• Strong negotiation skills and understanding of supplier contracts, quotes, and pricing structures.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems such as JobBOSS, Global Shop, or similar; experience with Epicor is preferred.
• Solid understanding of fabrication processes, raw materials (especially metals), and external finishing services.
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high‑mix,…