Job Description
The Manager, Purchase Order (PO) Management is responsible for leading a team that manages the end-to-end purchase order lifecycle—from PO issuance through supplier production and final shipment. This role ensures on-time delivery, adherence to lead times, and effective coordination with outsourced suppliers, while driving process efficiency and accountability across the supply chain.
This position plays a critical role in maintaining supplier performance, mitigating delays, and ensuring a consistent flow of goods aligned with business demand.
Key Responsibilities
PO Lifecycle Management
- Oversee the full lifecycle of purchase orders, from creation to shipment and delivery confirmation
- Ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance of all PO documentation and system records
- Monitor open orders and proactively resolve delays, shortages, or discrepancies
- Maintain visibility to PO status across suppliers and internal stakeholders
Supplier & Vendor Management
- Act as primary escalation point for supplier performance, delivery issues, and capacity constraints
- Build and maintain strong relationships with outsourced suppliers and vendors
- Track supplier KPIs (on-time delivery, lead time adherence, fill rates, quality)
- Partner with sourcing teams to improve supplier reliability and responsiveness
On-Time Shipping & Lead Time Performance
- Drive accountability for on-time shipment performance across all suppliers
- Analyze lead times and identify opportunities for reduction and improvement
- Collaborate with suppliers to optimize production schedules and shipping timelines
- Implement corrective actions for late shipments and recurring delays
Team Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for PO execution and supplier follow-up
- Establish clear performance metrics and daily/weekly operating cadence
- Drive accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
- Allocate workload and prioritize critical orders based on business needs
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with sourcing, logistics, planning, and finance teams to ensure alignment
- Communicate risks, delays, and recovery plans to internal stakeholders
- Support demand planning and inventory management through accurate PO tracking
- Ensure alignment between supplier commitments and business requirements
Process Improvement & Reporting
- Identify and implement process improvements in PO management workflows
- Develop reporting dashboards for:
- On-time delivery (OTD)
- Lead time performance
- Supplier scorecards
- Drive system utilization (ERP/MRP) to improve visibility and efficiency
- Standardize best practices for PO tracking and supplier communication
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Logistics, or related field
- 5–10+ years experience in procurement, supply chain operations, or purchasing
- 2–5+ years of people management experience
- Strong experience managing purchase orders and supplier relationships
- Proven track record improving on-time delivery and lead time performance
Preferred
- Experience working with overseas / outsourced suppliers
- ERP system experience (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.)
- Background in manufacturing, retail, or consumer goods supply chains
- Lean / Six Sigma or continuous improvement experience
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong execution and follow-through mindset
- Supplier management and negotiation skills
- Analytical skills (lead time, delays, root cause analysis)
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management
- Data-driven decision making and KPI management
Success Metrics (KPIs)
- On-Time Shipment % (OTD)
- Lead Time Adherence / Reduction
- PO Cycle Time
- Supplier Performance Scorecards
- Open Order Aging / Past Due Orders
- Team productivity and SLA adherence