Purchasing & Materials Coordinator

Position Summary

SSI Fabricated is seeking a detail-oriented, organized, and proactive Purchasing & Materials Coordinator to support purchasing, procurement, and material coordination activities within our manufacturing operations.

The primary responsibility of this position is to ensure the timely and cost-effective procurement of raw materials, components, supplies, and services necessary to support production schedules and operational requirements.

In addition to purchasing responsibilities, this position will provide secondary support to shipping and receiving operations, including coordinating inbound and outbound materials, verifying deliveries, and maintaining accurate inventory and shipment documentation.

The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills, excellent communication abilities, and experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This position requires someone who can effectively balance procurement priorities while supporting the overall flow of materials throughout the facility.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Purchasing & Procurement — Primary Responsibilities

- Coordinate the purchasing of raw materials, fabricated components, production supplies, equipment, and other materials required for daily manufacturing operations.

- Prepare, process, and maintain purchase orders in accordance with established company purchasing procedures.

- Communicate with suppliers to obtain pricing, availability, lead times, and delivery commitments.

- Evaluate vendor quotations and assist with identifying competitive pricing and cost-saving opportunities.

- Monitor open purchase orders and proactively follow up with vendors to ensure on-time delivery of materials.

- Work closely with production, engineering, and operations personnel to identify material requirements and prioritize purchasing needs.

- Assist in maintaining appropriate inventory levels to minimize production interruptions and avoid unnecessary excess inventory.

- Identify and communicate potential material shortages, delivery delays, or supplier-related concerns to management.

- Maintain accurate purchasing records, vendor information, pricing documentation, and order histories.

- Assist with resolving discrepancies involving purchase orders, invoices, pricing, quantities, or material specifications.

- Coordinate with accounting personnel to support accurate invoice matching and payment processing.

- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with existing and prospective suppliers.

- Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing purchasing costs, improving supplier performance, and increasing operational efficiency.

Shipping & Receiving — Secondary Responsibilities

- Assist with coordinating incoming material deliveries and outgoing shipments as operational needs require.

- Verify received materials against purchase orders, packing slips, and other applicable documentation.

- Identify and communicate shortages, damaged materials, or discrepancies in received shipments.

- Assist with preparing shipping documentation, packing slips, bills of lading, and other required paperwork.

- Coordinate with freight carriers and delivery services regarding shipment scheduling, pickups, and deliveries.

- Support accurate inventory transactions and material movement documentation within company systems.

- Communicate with production and operations personnel regarding incoming materials and outgoing shipments.

- Assist with organizing and maintaining designated receiving, staging, and shipping areas.

- Ensure materials are appropriately identified, documented, and routed to the correct departments or storage locations.

- Support compliance with company safety procedures and established material-handling practices.

- Provide hands-on assistance with shipping and receiving activities when necessary, consistent with training and operational requirements.

Administrative & Operational Support

- Maintain accurate electronic and physical records related to purchasing, inventory, and material transactions.

- Generate purchasing reports, open-order summaries, and material status updates as requested.

- Assist management in identifying opportunities to streamline purchasing and material flow processes.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support production schedules and customer delivery commitments.

- Perform other related duties as assigned to support overall business operations.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

- High school diploma or GED required; associate degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred.

- Minimum of 2 years of experience in purchasing, procurement, materials coordination, or a related manufacturing support role preferred.

- Working knowledge of purchasing processes, purchase orders, supplier communication, and inventory management.

- Experience working within a manufacturing, fabrication, or industrial environment strongly preferred.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Outlook.

- Experience utilizing ERP, MRP, or inventory management systems preferred.

- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry, documentation, and recordkeeping.

- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with production, operations, and administrative teams.

- Basic understanding of shipping, receiving, and freight documentation preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience purchasing steel, metals, fabricated components, or industrial materials.

- Familiarity with manufacturing bills of materials (BOMs), production schedules, and material requirements planning.

- Experience obtaining supplier quotations and supporting vendor negotiations.

- Understanding of inventory control, freight coordination, and material handling procedures.

- Experience working in a small to mid-sized manufacturing environment where cross-functional responsibilities are common.

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

- Ability to work in both an office environment and an active manufacturing facility.

- Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move throughout production, shipping, and receiving areas as needed.

- Ability to occasionally lift and move materials weighing up to 25 pounds, with appropriate assistance or equipment for heavier items.

- Exposure to typical manufacturing conditions, including machinery noise, industrial equipment, and material-handling activities.

- Required use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering designated manufacturing areas.

- Ability to operate material-handling equipment only when properly trained and authorized.

Key Performance Expectations

Success in this position will be measured by the individuals ability to:

- Maintain timely and accurate purchasing transactions.

- Support consistent material availability for production operations.

- Minimize purchasing delays and proactively address supplier-related issues.

- Identify opportunities for procurement cost savings.

- Maintain accurate purchasing and material documentation.

- Support efficient shipping and receiving processes.

- Demonstrate strong communication, accountability, and responsiveness across departments.

Equal Employment Opportunity

SSI Fabricated is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.