Purchasing & Materials Planning Specialist

La Crosse Sign Group | Onalaska, WI | Full-Time Help Keep Our Manufacturing Operations Moving La Crosse Sign Group is looking for an experienced, proactive Purchasing & Materials Planning Specialist to join our Operations team in Onalaska, Wisconsin. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys more than simply placing purchase orders. We're looking for a professional who understands purchasing, inventory management, supplier relationships, and materials planning—and who takes pride in making sure manufacturing teams have the materials they need, when they need them. La Crosse Sign Group is a regional leader in custom signage, providing design, manufacturing, installation, and service solutions for customers throughout the Midwest. Our operations involve a wide variety of materials, including aluminum, steel, electrical components, LED lighting, plastics, vinyl, paint, and specialized sign manufacturing supplies. The person in this position will play an important role in managing those materials, building strong supplier relationships, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and helping us continuously improve how we purchase and manage inventory. What You'll Be Doing Purchasing & Supplier Management Purchase inventory and project-specific materials to support manufacturing and installation. Negotiate pricing and purchasing terms with suppliers. Develop strong supplier relationships while continuously evaluating competitive alternatives. Identify new suppliers, materials, and technologies that could improve our products or reduce costs. Monitor purchase orders, delivery commitments, and supplier performance. Find opportunities to reduce material costs, freight expenses, and unnecessary purchasing activity. Materials Planning & Inventory Monitor inventory levels and anticipate future material requirements. Develop and maintain effective replenishment and materials forecasting processes. Establish and review reorder points, safety stock, and inventory purchasing levels. Identify potential material shortages before they impact production. Maintain accurate inventory and purchasing information in our ERP system. Analyze inventory usage, slow-moving materials, and opportunities to improve inventory investment. Process Improvement & Collaboration Work closely with our Estimating, Project Delivery, Production, and Operations teams. Use Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Excel to analyze purchasing and inventory information. Help develop better reports, forecasting tools, and purchasing processes. Identify inefficiencies and take ownership of implementing improvements. Communicate proactively with team members about material availability, supplier delays, and potential concerns. What We're Looking For At least 3 years of experience in purchasing, inventory management, materials planning, or a related manufacturing role. Experience working with suppliers, negotiating pricing, and managing purchase orders. Strong understanding of inventory management and replenishment practices. Experience with ERP or inventory management software. Strong Excel, analytical, and organizational skills. Ability to anticipate problems and develop solutions independently. Strong communication skills and a team-oriented approach. Someone who takes ownership, follows through, and is motivated to improve processes. Even Better If You Have Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Experience in manufacturing, metal fabrication, construction materials, or the sign industry. Knowledge of material requirements planning (MRP) and inventory forecasting. Experience developing new suppliers or negotiating cost-saving agreements. Education or certification in purchasing, supply chain, or operations management. Who We Are: For over 100 years, La Crosse Sign Group has worked diligently to develop an organization dedicated to the service of our clients. From our humble beginnings in 1917, we have adapted to an ever-expanding and diverse indust…

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