Purchasing Manager

Purchaser – Retail Fixtures, Millwork and Global Sourcing Automated Cutting Technologies, Inc. – Nicholasville, Kentucky

Automated Cutting Technologies, Inc. (ACT, Inc.) is seeking an experienced Purchaser to support our custom retail store fixture and display manufacturing operations.

ACT, Inc. manufactures wood, metal, and mixed-material fixtures and displays for national retailers. Our projects frequently require the coordinated purchasing of sheet goods, hardwoods, laminates, metals, acrylics, glass, hardware, lighting components, packaging materials, outsourced services, and other custom-manufacturing supplies.

We are looking for a purchasing professional who understands the demands of a project-driven manufacturing environment and can ensure that materials are sourced accurately, competitively, and on schedule. The ideal candidate will have both domestic and international sourcing experience.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply-chain experience
• Experience in the retail store fixture or retail display industry strongly preferred
• Experience in architectural millwork, commercial cabinetry, casework, furniture, or mixed-material manufacturing will also be considered
• Experience purchasing wood, metal, acrylic, laminate, glass, hardware, lighting, and related manufacturing materials
• Experience sourcing products, materials, or components from Southeast Asia
• Experience developing, evaluating, and managing international suppliers
• Familiarity with international freight, lead times, quality-control requirements, import documentation, tariffs, and landed-cost considerations
• Experience working for a manufacturing company with annual revenue exceeding $20 million preferred
• Experience supporting custom, made-to-order, or project-based production
• Knowledge of vendors, material availability, freight considerations, pricing, and production lead times

• Purchase materials, components, supplies, and outsourced services needed for customer projects and company operations
• Source products and materials from domestic and international suppliers, including suppliers in Southeast Asia
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop new suppliers
• Review purchase requirements, bills of materials, project schedules, drawings, specifications, and production needs
• Request and evaluate supplier quotations
• Compare pricing based on total landed cost, quality, lead time, freight, duties, and risk
• Negotiate pricing, lead times, payment terms, freight, tooling costs, minimum-order quantities, and other purchasing conditions
• Issue and maintain accurate purchase orders
• Confirm order acknowledgments, pricing, quantities, specifications, and delivery dates
• Track open purchase orders and proactively address delays, shortages, quality concerns, and price changes
• Coordinate with engineering, project management, production, receiving, accounting, quality personnel, and company leadership
• Identify alternative materials or suppliers when appropriate
• Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships
• Monitor supplier quality, pricing, reliability, capacity, and on-time performance
• Help control material costs while maintaining ACT, Inc.’s quality standards
• Resolve discrepancies involving invoices, deliveries, damaged materials, shortages, incorrect items, or products that do not meet specifications
• Maintain organized and accurate purchasing and supplier records
• Travel to supplier facilities, trade events, or other locations when necessary

The purchaser must be willing and able to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require. Travel may include visits to suppliers in Southeast Asia to evaluate manufacturing capabilities, develop supplier relationships, inspect products, address quality or production concerns, and support sourcing initiatives.

• Strong negotiation, communication, and supplier-management skills
• Excellent attention to detail and follow-through
• Ability to understand specifications, drawings, bills of materials, and project requirements
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects with changing deadlines
• Strong computer, organizational, analytical, and data-entry skills
• Ability to evaluate total landed cost rather than purchase price alone
• Sound judgment when balancing price, quality, availability, lead time, and production schedules
• Ability to work effectively with engineering, production, project management, accounting, leadership, and suppliers
• Ability to communicate professionally with domestic and international suppliers

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience
• Paid time off

• Qualified applicants should submit a resume describing their purchasing experience, industries served, materials purchased, international sourcing experience, countries or regions sourced from, and the approximate size of the companies for which they have worked.

ACT, Inc. is a WBENC-certified, Made-in-USA…