Purchasing Manager

The Purchasing Manager oversees company-wide purchasing, procurement strategy, vendor relationships, material planning, and cost control for all operations business lines, including solar and roof installations, across all Trinity warehouses.

This position is responsible for developing and implementing procurement strategies, evaluating purchasing decisions, and exercising independent judgment and discretion on matters of significance, including vendor selection, contract negotiations, purchasing policies, and cost optimization initiatives.

The Purchasing Manager ensures every warehouse has the materials to support installation schedules while maintaining competitive pricing, minimizing excess inventory and shortages, and improving purchasing efficiency. The manager works closely with warehouse, operations, finance, project management, and executive leadership.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversees and develops purchasing personnel, establishing performance expectations, assigning responsibilities, and evaluating employee performance.

• Provides guidance, coaching, and direction to purchasing personnel to ensure compliance with procurement policies and organizational objectives.

• Participates in hiring, performance management, and personnel decisions within the Purchasing department.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Purchasing & Procurement

• Direct and oversee purchasing and material procurement across all locations, exercising independent judgment in evaluating purchasing needs, priorities, and procurement decisions.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate standardized purchasing procedures and approval processes to improve operational efficiency and cost effectiveness.

• Consolidate purchasing volume and assess market pricing across vendors to secure the best prices, discounts, and payment terms.

Vendor Management & Negotiations

• Establish and maintain strategic supplier and manufacturer relationships.

• Independently evaluate vendor bids and quotations, considering pricing, quality, reliability, and business requirements to make purchasing recommendations and decisions.

• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, freight, delivery schedules, and contracts in alignment with company financial and operational objectives.

• Evaluate supplier performance, availability, quality, and delivery reliability, determining appropriate corrective actions or alternative sourcing strategies.

Inventory Planning & Demand Forecasting

• Develop purchasing plans and procurement strategies based on historical usage, installation schedules, and warehouse demand.

• Evaluate inventory requirements and advise warehouse management on reorder points, safety stock, and replenishment schedules.

• Analyze inventory distribution and recommend transfers between warehouses to optimize material availability and reduce costs.

• Develop strategies to standardize materials and improve inventory utilization.

Budgeting & Cost Control

• Analyze purchasing expenditures and independently identify and recommend cost reduction opportunities and procurement improvements.

• Partner with finance and executive leadership on purchasing budgets, financial planning, and forecasting.

• Evaluate price variances, freight costs, and purchasing savings to identify financial risks and implement corrective strategies.

• Oversee the maintenance of vendor information, pricing documentation, bids, and purchasing approvals.

Systems & Reporting

• Utilize NetSuite to evaluate purchasing trends, analyze item demand and purchasing history, and develop strategies to improve material planning.

• Develop and analyze purchasing reports and KPIs to assess procurement effectiveness, identify operational risks, and recommend improvements to budget performance.

• Evaluate outstanding orders, backorders, lead times, and anticipated deliveries to determine appropriate purchasing priorities and mitigation strategies.

• Establish and improve standardized processes for requisitions, approvals, order tracking, and invoice discrepancies.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Direct and oversee purchasing personnel, establishing departmental priorities, performance expectations, and operational objectives.

• Collaborate with warehouse, operations, project management, and accounting teams to develop procurement solutions and improve cross-functional processes.

• Evaluate material shortages, supplier delays, and purchasing risks, independently determining appropriate corrective actions and escalating significant business risks to leadership as necessary.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion in purchasing, vendor management, and financial decision-making.

• Strong negotiation skills and ability to evaluate complex vendor agreements and purchasing arrangements.

• Knowledge of procurement strategies, inventory management, demand forecasting, and cost control.

• Proficiency in NetSuite or comparable ERP and purchasing management systems.

• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Ability to prioritize competing business needs and develop effective solutions to procurement challenges.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred.

• Previous experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain management, or a related field required.

• Experience with vendor negotiations, purchasing budgets, inventory planning, and procurement process improvements preferred.

• Prior supervisory or leadership experience preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to communicate effectively with employees, vendors, and business partners.

• Ability to visit warehouse locations as needed.