Procurement Manager

Location: Columbus, MS
Reports to: Vice President, Supply Chain
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

The Procurement Manager is responsible for leading all procurement activities, driving supplier performance, and ensuring the efficient acquisition of goods and services that support operational and strategic objectives. This role oversees day-to-day purchasing operations while building long-term procurement strategies, strengthening supplier partnerships, and developing a high-performing team. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership capability, deep procurement expertise, and a continuous improvement mindset.

✅ Key Responsibilities

Supplier & Contract Management

• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, terms, and long-range agreements.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality, delivery, and performance requirements while resolving issues proactively.
• Lead contract negotiations and ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, and internal standards.

Cost, Budget & Risk Management

• Manage the procurement budget and monitor spending to ensure cost control.
• Identify risks in the supply base and implement mitigation strategies to prevent operational disruptions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency and reduce cost.

Strategic Procurement & Market Intelligence

• Develop procurement strategies aligned with organizational goals and supply chain optimization.
• Oversee market research, supplier analysis, and evaluation of emerging technologies, trends, and capabilities.
• Support long-term sourcing decisions through data analysis and competitive benchmarking.

Inventory & Demand Planning

• Partner with inventory and logistics teams to ensure optimized stock levels and accurate forecasting.
• Support demand planning, replenishment strategies, and inventory control to eliminate stockouts or excess inventory.

Team Leadership & Daily Operations

• Lead, coach, and mentor procurement staff, fostering growth, capability building, and high-performance culture.
• Oversee daily procurement operations including order processing, communication flow, and workflow management.
• Delegate responsibilities effectively based on skillsets and development needs.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Establish, track, and report procurement KPIs, providing insights to senior leadership.
• Highlight performance trends, savings initiatives, supplier scorecards, and process improvements.

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all procurement activities align with legal, regulatory, and corporate policies.
• Maintain accurate, complete procurement documentation and support audits and internal reviews.

✅ Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Project Management, or related field.

Experience

• 5–7+ years in procurement, purchasing, or operational management, including 5+ years in a supervisory or leadership capacity.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
• Advanced negotiation, communication, and supplier-management capability.
• Proficiency in procurement systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills with a data-driven approach.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong conflict-resolution and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Certifications

• CPIM
• Six Sigma