Purchasing Manager

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead all procurement and strategic-sourcing activities for the San Diego operation.
2. Manage, mentor, and develop two Buyers.
3. Negotiate supplier pricing, contracts, payment terms, lead times, and service agreements.
4. Develop sourcing strategies that improve cost, quality, delivery, and supply-chain reliability.
5. Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers.
6. Identify, qualify, and develop alternative suppliers to reduce cost and supply-chain risk.
7. Manage material availability for a high-value, low-volume manufacturing environment.
8. Monitor tariffs, duties, freight costs, and international trade developments that affect purchasing decisions.
9. Evaluate total landed cost and recommend sourcing strategies that minimize tariff and transportation exposure.
10. Partner with Operations, Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Sales to support production and customer requirements.
11. Use ERP data to manage purchase orders, inventory levels, lead times, supplier performance, and material requirements.
12. Establish and track procurement KPIs, including purchase-price variance, supplier quality, on-time delivery, lead-time reduction, and cost savings.
13. Resolve supplier quality, delivery, pricing, and capacity issues.
14. Support supplier audits, contract reviews, forecasting, and annual budgeting.
15. Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, quality requirements, and applicable customer or regulatory standards.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
2. Five or more years of progressive procurement, purchasing, or supply-chain experience in a manufacturing environment.
3. Prior experience in PCB, PCBA, electronics, or electronic-component procurement strongly preferred.
4. Experience supporting high-value, low-volume or high-mix manufacturing.
5. Demonstrated success negotiating pricing, contracts, lead times, and commercial terms.
6. Strong knowledge of domestic and international sourcing, tariffs, duties, and total landed cost.
7. Hands-on ERP/MRP system experience.
8. Previous experience managing or mentoring purchasing professionals.
9. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and supplier-management skills.
10. Ability to work effectively across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Sales.
11. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
12. Must live in or be willing to relocate to the San Diego area.
13. Must be available to work in the office; this is not a remote position.