Purchasing Manager

At Sheboygan Paint Company, we are committed to being an Employer of Choice by fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture where people feel valued and empowered. We embrace Change and Innovation, act with Confidence, and take accountability because We Own It. Through Continuous Improvement, we challenge ourselves to learn, adapt, and deliver excellence to our customers.

The Purchasing Manager leads the day-to-day procurement of raw materials, packaging, equipment, and

indirect spend that support coatings manufacturing. Reporting to the Director, Supply Chain Planning &

Customer Operations, this role ensures the timely, cost-effective availability of materials to meet

production schedules and customer service commitments. The Purchasing Manager executes sourcing and

negotiation activities, manages supplier performance, maintains accurate ERP and inventory data, and

partners closely with Operations, Master Planning, Quality, R&D, and Finance to drive continuity of

supply, cost savings, and continuous improvement. The role leads and develops the buying team and

supports the broader category and sourcing strategies established by the Director.

expediting, and issue resolution to ensure on-time delivery of raw materials, packaging, and indirect

materials.

• Ensure uninterrupted materials availability to support production schedules, proactively identifying and mitigating supply risks, shortages, and lead-time changes.
• Partner with Master Planning and Operations to align purchasing activity with demand, capacity, and production plans.
• Maintain accurate purchasing data in the ERP system (pricing, lead times, minimum order quantities, and supplier records) to improve visibility and execution speed.
• Resolve invoice, receiving, and quality discrepancies in partnership with Finance, Receiving, and Quality.
• Execute sourcing activities, including RFQs, supplier evaluations, and quote analysis, in support of category strategies defined by the Director.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and supply agreements for assigned categories to deliver cost savings and reliable supply.
• Manage supplier relationships and monitor performance across quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness; lead corrective actions when performance gaps arise.
• Support supplier consolidation, qualification of alternate sources, and risk-mitigation efforts to strengthen supply continuity.
• Partner with R&D and Quality to identify and qualify new raw materials and suppliers in support of New Product Development (NPD).

• Partner with Planning and Inventory Control to set and maintain inventory targets, safety stock, and replenishment parameters aligned to lead times, demand, and service goals.
• Balance material availability with inventory and working-capital objectives, minimizing excess, obsolete, and slow-moving stock.
• Support inventory accuracy through disciplined data management and partnership on cycle counts.

• Track and report purchase price variance (PPV), cost savings, and material cost trends against budget.
• Identify and execute cost-reduction and value-engineering opportunities in partnership with the Director and cross-functional teams.
• Provide timely reporting and analysis on supplier performance, spend, and procurement metrics.
• Drive continuous improvement of procurement processes, controls, and ERP data quality.
• Standardize purchasing procedures and documentation to ensure consistency, compliance, and auditability.

• Lead, mentor, and develop the buying team, fostering accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Set clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned to service, cost, and supply-continuity objectives.

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, chemistry, chemical engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of purchasing or procurement experience, preferably in the coatings, chemicals, paints, adhesives, or specialty materials industries.
• Working knowledge of raw material categories used in coatings or chemical manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success negotiating supply agreements and managing supplier performance.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and procurement / analytics tools.
• Strong organizational, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Professional certifications (CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or similar) a plus.

• On-time delivery / materials availability to the production schedule
• Purchase price variance (PPV) and purchased material cost savings vs. budget
• Supplier performance (quality, delivery, and responsiveness)
• Inventory turns and/or days of inventory on hand (DOH)