PURCHASING MANAGER (ID#757)

Inventory & Receiving Team Leadership | VAR / MSP Environment 

Position Overview 

We are seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead our purchasing, inventory, and receiving team within a Value-Added Reseller (VAR) or Managed Service Provider (MSP) environment. This role is responsible for the day-to-day execution of purchasing activities — from purchase order creation through vendor follow-up, delivery tracking, and receiving coordination. The ideal candidate has a strong background in technology purchasing, understands the fast-paced needs of MSP/VAR operations, and can build a disciplined, accurate, and responsive purchasing function. 

Key Responsibilities 

Team Leadership & Operations 

• Lead, mentor, and develop the purchasing, inventory, and receiving team (buyers, purchasing coordinators, receiving clerks, and inventory specialists). 

• Set performance targets, conduct regular 1:1s, and manage shift scheduling to maintain appropriate business coverage. 

• Foster a culture of accuracy, urgency, accountability, and continuous improvement across purchasing and receiving functions. 

Purchasing Execution 

• Own the full purchase order lifecycle: requisition review, vendor selection, PO creation, order confirmation, delivery tracking, backorder expediting, and invoice reconciliation. 

• Maintain accurate open-order reports and proactively communicate status, delays, and alternatives to internal stakeholders and client-facing teams. 

• Ensure purchasing decisions align with approved budgets, vendor agreements, and client project timelines. 

• Resolve PO discrepancies, delivery issues, and vendor billing problems in a timely manner. 

Vendor & Distributor Relations 

• Manage relationships with key technology distributors and vendors (e.g., Ingram Micro, TD Synnex, direct OEMs). 

• Negotiate pricing, lead times, freight terms, and return privileges to support margin and service goals. 

• Evaluate vendor performance on delivery, accuracy, and responsiveness; escalate chronic issues as needed. 

Inventory & Receiving Coordination 

• Coordinate with the receiving team to ensure all incoming IT assets are inspected, serialized, and recorded in the ERP / inventory system with 99.5%+ accuracy. 

• Support cycle-count programs, physical inventory audits, and discrepancy-resolution processes. 

• Maintain appropriate stock levels for high-velocity IT components and coordinate with service and project teams to forecast demand. 

• Oversee asset tagging, warranty tracking, and RMA processes for client and internal equipment. 

Process & Compliance 

• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for purchasing, receiving, inspection, storage, and dispatch. 

• Ensure compliance with IT asset management policies, data-security requirements, and relevant industry regulations. 

• Drive adoption of automation and digital tools (ERP purchasing modules, vendor portals, barcode / RFID scanning) to improve efficiency and visibility. 

Required Qualifications 

• 5+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain operations, with at least 2 years in a leadership role. 

• Demonstrated experience in a VAR, MSP, or technology reseller environment — purchasing IT hardware, software licenses, or technology services. 

• Strong understanding of purchase order management, vendor follow-up, backorder expediting, and receiving workflows. 

• Proficiency with ERP purchasing modules and PSA platforms common in MSPs (e.g., ConnectWise, Autotask, ServiceNow, Salesforce). 

• Excellent negotiation, communication, and vendor-management skills.