Job Status: Filled

Purchasing Manager - Sawmill (Forestry, Logging & Mill Operations)

Full Time

  Top Wood Jobs

  Minnesota, Minnesota, United States

Job#150312PM Purchasing Manager – Lumber - Minnesota
Location: United States 
Industry: Lumber
Wage: $58-96K/year depending on experience
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, or engineering preferred.
Years Experience Required:  Seven (7) years of experience in accounting, maintenance, material management, operations or purchasing in a forest products/industrial process required. 

Description: 

Supervise all purchasing and storeroom activities and personnel.  Ensure supply (i.e. material management and purchasing) programs fully represent the initiatives, strategies and best practices necessary for the unit to meet its needs.  Serve as the unit’s representative and communication link with suppliers/vendors. 

Key Accountabilities 

Key Activities 

Purchasing         

  • Implement best practices at the mill consistent with the purchasing services initiatives and the unit’s needs which include common information systems, metrics, common Maintenance, Repair, Operations (MRO) parts descriptors and a streamlined supply process.     
  • Critique suppliers/vendors as to service, price and quality.
  • Manage and negotiate purchasing initiatives and agreements at the unit, including national agreements, and major capital purchases.
  • Ensure parts and supplies inventory support the unit’s production and maintenance needs. Efficiently manage inventories.
  • Participate in Daily Maintenance, Operations & Engineering (MOE) meetings as needed to stay updated on Work Orders issued and what material will be needed to complete jobs.
  • Coordinate with the Planner to insure the correct supplies are requisitioned and purchased from the best supplier. Prioritize the processing of requisitions and purchase orders while communicating with maintenance and operations personnel to address any actual or potential mill down situations. 

Cost Control      

  • Monitoring and keeping the monthly spend within the parameters mandated by corporate policy in conjunction with the mill manager.
  • Monitor vendor performance in regards to pricing, service/delivery and invoicing/accounts payable issues.
  • Process invoice issues and errors in a timely manner to avoid late payment and the erosion of a good working relationship with the vendor.
  • Searching for new vendors/suppliers and contractors to provide cost savings yet not compromising overall service which includes adhering to the terms and conditions of the purchase order along with accounts payable policies and procedures.
  • Procure parts and supplies from vendors in which there has been a contract negotiated by Corporate Purchasing Services for a fixed price and additional product support.
  • Negotiate with suppliers and contractors to receive the best pricing and delivery.
  • Prepare quotes to suppliers and issue purchase order to supplier with best price and delivery.
  • Manage warranty, rebate and obsolescence issues
  • Assist in the selling and disposal of excess/obsolete parts and equipment. 

Leadership        

  • Develop and lead a capable and competent purchasing team (employees and vendors) to provide value-added contributions that reduce costs and increase efficiency of the unit.
  • Delegate duties, work responsibilities and determine schedules for storeroom personnel and address any issues or concerns they may have in a professional and confidential manner.
  • Enforce and oversee the documented procedures and key controls for the storeroom and purchasing department mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX).
  • Create high standards for organizational support of business strategies –safety, lean manufacturing, 5S, and total productive maintenance (TPM)
  • Serve as liaison between internal customers and vendors/suppliers. 

Minimum Qualifications (technical/professional skills, expertise and qualifications)

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, or engineering preferred.
  • Seven (7) years of experience in accounting, maintenance, material management, operations or purchasing in a forest products/industrial process required.
  • Purchasing Professional Certification preferred.
  • Strong negotiation skills.
  • Intermediate proficiency of MS Office Word, Excel, Access and integrated accounting, inventory, maintenance and purchasing system (Microsoft AX, JD Edwards, Etc.).
  • Must possess strong administrative skills, be well organized, self-motivated, and detail oriented.
  • Must possess excellent interpersonal skills, good written and verbal communication skills and be able to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences. 

Working Conditions (e.g., heat, cold, noise, etc.)            

  • Essential Physical Functions (e.g., lifting, bending, climbing, reading, etc.)
  • Primarily office environment.
  • Some exposure to normal mill/industrial environment, heat, cold, noise, dust and moving machinery.
  • Minimal exposure to seasonal weather conditions.         
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Mental/physical fatigue from computer use.
  • Some climbing of stairs and catwalks at elevated heights. 

Compensation

Wage: $58K-96K/year depending on experience