Manager, Purchase Order Management

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