Purchasing Manager

Job DescriptionJob Description

Commitment and Career Growth * Comprehensive Benefits * Work-Life Balance * Community

At Nordic Ware, we have a passion for creating innovative, high quality, American-made kitchenware. We benefit from a collaborative, connected, value-driven culture and we're growing! For 75+ years our products have enhanced food preparation, inspired creativity and fun in the kitchen, and brought people together at tables around the world. Our employees take pride in the products we make, and many choose a lifetime career here.

Due to an internal promotion, we have an opening for a Purchasing Manager. In this position, you will play an important role in our success at Nordic Ware. You'll have the opportunity to develop, recommend, and implement purchasing policies and procedures, while managing the Purchasing team. You will manage the procurement of materials and supplies needed for the operation of the organization, qualifying our suppliers and helping them improve. You will also be responsible for the development and support of dual sourcing for commodities, and continued cost reduction through sourcing development, competition and process improvement. You'll see the results of your work in our finished products as you help shape the future of Purchasing at Nordic Ware.

What you will get to do:

Purchasing Administration

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies, plans and procedures aligned with company goals.
• Source and evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and manage vendor performance.
• Monitor and support daily purchasing activities for efficiency and information accuracy
• Maintain and monitor purchase order entry and material needs.
• Manage purchases of department supplies as requested and authorized by department managers and supervisors.
• Maintain and approve purchase orders in compliance with purchasing authorization levels
• Ensure vendor purchasing terms and vendor information is maintained accurately within ERP system
• Maintain knowledge and familiarity with commodity pricing, availability, and market changes.
• Establish and manage the annual standard costs for budgeting.
• Develop and maintain the ability to back up all purchasing functions and responsibilities

Vendor Management

• Manage and support the functions of purchasing vendor management.
• Direct the qualification and documentation of qualified suppliers.
• Manage maintenance of vendor quotes, when applicable.
• Manage the coordination of active vendors in relation to supply needs, lead time, pricing, order placement, on time delivery, and quality in coordination with Nordic Ware production.
• Oversee the coordination of Import sourcing in all aspects of development, sourcing and product coordination.

Inventory Responsibilities

• Manage and support the functions of purchasing and inventory.
• Monitor, analyze and coordinate adjustment of incoming inventory according to current needs of Operations, and maintain an adequate and balanced purchased inventory level.
• Monitor, analyze and coordinate inventory adjustment of obsolete purchased materials.

Quality Management

• Maintain knowledge of, and assist in establishing, quality standards for purchased materials.
• Work with Nordic Ware Quality Assurance to manage communication of quality standards and quality reinforcement for purchased products and components.
• Manage and support quality problem resolution for defective or unacceptable goods and incoming purchased quality issues.

Product Development / Change

• Manage and assist in the sourcing of vendors and processes for cost reduction and quality Improvements.
• Support the Design and Engineering Departments with new product development and current product change through vendor interaction and engineering documentation.
• Manage the process for sample procurement for new items.
• Assist the Packaging Product Line and Packaging Product change process in conjunction with Creative, Planning and Purchasing.

Information Management

• Manage and support the functions of purchasing information management.
• Analyze Material Requirements Planning (MRP) through purchasing reports and messages.
• Review and resolve material and costing variances through ERP Reports.
• Provide, monitor, and revise vendor item costs and vendor lead times.
• Function as subject matter expert in purchasing processes and procedures in the ERP system.
• Function as a trainer in purchasing-related ERP processes and procedures.

Sales and Administration Support

• Manage and support the technicians in the process of mockup and prototype costing for new and potential products as requested by Sales and Administration.
• Manage the Purchasing Assistant in support of Purchasing tasks and labor reporting tasks.

Leadership

• Hire, train, coach, and manage high-performing employees in Purchasing fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
• Build and sustain a collaborative, high-performing team by assessing talent, developing skills, and recognizing contributions to procurement processes.
• Oversee documentation and training efforts to ensure operational consistency and staff development.
• Champion a positive, equitable workplace culture that enhances teamwork, morale, and employee retention.
• Support and participate in Continuous Improvement Committee initiatives and promote industry best practices.

What you'll bring to the role:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field required.
• Five + (5) years' experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain management.
• Broad experience in purchasing Nordic Ware-related commodity classes is required.
• Proven experience in vendor negotiation, contract management, and inventory control.
• Leadership experience (formal or informal) required.
• Strong negotiation and verbal/written communication skills
• Excellent analytical thinking skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to ensure the smooth flow of simultaneous projects required to meet critical deadlines
• Outgoing, proactive manner with the ability to seek out information needed to move projects forward
• Broad understanding of Epicor required.
• Microsoft Office application (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) intermediate proficiency required
• Understanding of supply chain logistics, compliance, budgeting and cost control
• Must be able to travel nationally and internationally, for up to 5 continuous days

This position is a regular full-time position located in our Corporate Headquarters in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota.

About Us:

We strive to offer attentive service that exceeds our customers' expectations, to produce environmentally sound products, and to provide a safe and rewarding work experience for our employees.

We recognize that a growing return on our efforts and investments is essential to maintain our leadership position. We are committed to ethical conduct in all matters and to earning the trust and confidence of our customers, suppliers, employees and of our community.

We value our employees and offer a competitive compensation and benefits package including Bonuses, Medical, Dental, Vision, Health and Wellness Programs (including onsite Pickleball and Yoga, HSA with employer contributions and the new Nice Healthcare), Short and Long-Term , Basic Life and AD&D, Voluntary Life, Dependent Care FSA, Legal Plan Coverage, Paid Time Off, PTO buy and sell opportunity, Paid Holidays, 401(k) Match, Career Development including Tuition Reimbursement, Generous Employee Discount, Performance Based Pay, Weekly Paychecks.

Nordic Ware is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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