Purchasing Manager

This position can be located at one of our following locations; Wausau Corporate, Appleton, or Madison.

ABOUT US:

Rocket Industrial is a leader in the packaging industry, serving a diverse range of industries with a comprehensive portfolio of products and services. Our tagline, "Package With Less," reflects our mission to help businesses achieve more with less waste, less cost, and less complexity. Join us on our journey as we continue to lead the way in packaging innovation and help our customers achieve their goals with the best possible solutions.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

The Purchasing Manager is responsible for managing designated product lines and overseeing strategic sourcing, vendor relationships, inventory optimization, and product portfolio performance. This position collaborates closely with sales, marketing, operations, and vendor partners to ensure Rocket maintains a competitive product offering while achieving inventory, cost, and service objectives. The Purchasing Manager is responsible for driving vendor performance, identifying market opportunities, negotiating favorable business terms, including lower minimum order quantities (MOQs), shorter lead times, and maintaining accurate product information within company systems. This position requires delivering excellent service to both internal and external customers while supporting the overall growth and profitability of the organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Analyze and manage inventory performance through regular review of inventory turns, fill rates, purchasing patterns, and product profitability.
• Develop monthly forecasts and performance analyses to support inventory planning and purchasing decisions.
• Drive inventory reduction initiatives through strategic purchasing decisions and vendor consolidation opportunities.
• Evaluate stocking requests against the Inventory Policy (Turn & Earn, stocking agreement, vendor quote) and escalate exceptions to SIOP.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors, supplier partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure product information is accurate, complete, and maintained within company systems.
• Partner with Finance to manage working capital targets and inventory budgets.
• Build team bench strength through cross-training, documented procedures, and development plans for high-potential team members.
• Own the Inventory Policy, including periodic review, updates, and training to ensure consistent application across sales and operations.
• Establish and own departmental KPIs and scorecard measurables (turns, fill rate, COGS savings, excess/obsolete inventory, vendor performance) and hold the team accountable to results.
• Lead, coach, and develop the purchasing team, including setting clear expectations, conducting regular one-on-ones, and completing performance reviews.
• Set quarterly priorities aligned with company goals and ensure the team executes on commitments.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA’s):

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, preferred
• Advanced degree or certification in appropriate field, preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in purchasing or related field, preferred
• Management experience, preferred
• Strong presentation, communication, and collaboration skills
• Problem solving and decision making abilities
• Proficient in resolving complex issues

BENEFITS:

To learn more about our benefits, please visit our careers page.