Purchasing Manager

Job Title: Purchasing Manager – MRO

Job Description

This role leads the procurement of maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) materials, equipment, and services for a growing manufacturing organization in Ashland City, TN. The Purchasing Manager – MRO ensures timely availability of parts and supplies to support production and maintenance, while driving cost savings, optimizing inventory, and strengthening supplier performance. The position is ideal for an experienced purchasing professional with a strong manufacturing experience, proven negotiation skills, and a proactive approach to strategic sourcing and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Source, evaluate, and develop relationships with suppliers to ensure high-quality products, competitive pricing, and reliable delivery for MRO materials, equipment, and services.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, and vendor agreements to achieve cost savings while maintaining quality, delivery, and service standards.
• Review purchasing requirements and issue accurate purchase orders with correct specifications, quantities, and delivery details.
• Monitor open purchase orders, track order status, and proactively resolve delays or supply chain disruptions to support continuous operations.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels of MRO materials to support production and maintenance activities without excess stock.
• Analyze purchasing trends, inventory usage, and demand forecasts to ensure alignment with operational needs and to support data-driven decision-making.
• Identify and implement process improvements, strategic sourcing initiatives, and supplier consolidation opportunities to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Partner closely with Maintenance, Operations, Production, and other internal departments to ensure purchasing activities align with overall business objectives.
• Resolve supplier performance issues related to quality, delivery, and service, and drive corrective actions when needed.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation, ensuring compliance with company procurement policies and procedures.
• Track supplier key performance indicators (KPIs) and support ongoing vendor performance reviews to strengthen supplier relationships and performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the purchasing function and contribute to a culture of operational excellence.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of purchasing experience, including significant experience sourcing MRO materials within a manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of procurement practices and supplier relationship management within a manufacturing context.
• Proven experience negotiating contracts, pricing agreements, and supplier terms to achieve cost savings and favorable conditions.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, purchasing software, and inventory management systems.
• Demonstrated skills in inventory management, strategic sourcing, vendor management, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret purchasing and inventory data to support decision-making.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and build strong supplier partnerships.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in purchasing documentation, records, and transactions.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement in procurement processes and supplier performance.
• Experience working as a buyer or purchasing professional in a manufacturing or industrial environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience purchasing industrial maintenance parts, including bearings, motors, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Experience in sourcing electrical and mechanical components for manufacturing operations.
• Experience procuring production consumables used in manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to purchasing capital equipment and coordinating maintenance services.
• Experience sourcing manufacturing tooling and safety supplies.
• Familiarity with MRO buying, supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing, inventory management, procurement, and vendor management.
• Experience in cost reduction initiatives and supply chain optimization.
• Knowledge of supply chain principles and purchasing best practices, including purchasing, supply chain, ERP, and buyer purchasing responsibilities.

Work Environment

This position is 100% in-office at a manufacturing company with an office-based setting on-site. The Purchasing Manager works closely with operations, production, and maintenance teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, using ERP, purchasing, and inventory management systems on a daily basis. The role involves frequent interaction with suppliers and internal stakeholders, and requires a professional office presence while being closely connected to plant and maintenance activities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Ashland City, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $44.00 - $45.67/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Ashland City,TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 16, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.