Purchasing Manager

Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS) is a diversified industrial technology manufacturing company shaping solutions for the safe and efficient transfer of electrical energy. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, we serve customers across industrial, transportation, and electronics markets worldwide. With approximately 16,000 employees we design and manufacture innovative technologies that support electrification, energy efficiency, and advanced automation. Our global reach is matched by a culture that empowers innovation and long-term growth. Guided by our principles We Care, We Succeed With Our Customers, and We Own the Outcome, we work collaboratively, think boldly, and deliver solutions that move industries forward.

The Purchasing Manager leads the ICP raw material buyers/planners to translate the approved production plan and MRP requirements into timely, accurate purchase orders and supplier releases. Ensures material availability while controlling inventory, excess and obsolescence, and premium freight. Develop team capability, supplier delivery performance, and reliable planning data. Execute plant purchasing in alignment with approved sourcing strategies, commercial agreements, and company controls.

About Your Job:

MRP execution and material availability. Direct daily MRP exception review, purchase order placement, supplier confirmations, rescheduling, cancellations, and past-due recovery. Validate requirements against the production plan and inventory; maintain shortage visibility, owners, recovery dates, and timely escalation to Production Control and Supply Chain leadership. 30%

Supplier delivery and continuity. Lead supplier delivery reviews and corrective actions; validate capacity, commitments, and material in transit. Coordinate supply recovery with Logistics, Supplier Quality, and Category Management. Prevent line disruptions and reduce premium freight through root cause elimination; obtain required approvals for exceptions. 20%

Inventory and planning discipline. Own raw material inventory performance and purchasing exposure. Review lead times, lot sizes, minimum orders, safety stocks, and other SAP/MRP parameters with approved data owners. Manage demand changes, new program ramp-up, engineering changes, and phase-outs to minimize excess and obsolescence; implement approved consignment/VMI initiatives. 20%

People and performance leadership. Set buyer/planner priorities, goals, workload, and coverage. Coach and evaluate employees; maintain documented training, cross-training, and succession plans. Lead daily operational reviews and monthly KPI/action-plan reviews; develop staffing and improvement proposals and manage assigned resources within approved budgets. 20%

Purchasing controls and continuous improvement. Ensure accurate purchase orders, approved prices/sources, authorization limits, and auditable records. Resolve receiving and invoice exceptions with Warehouse, Quality, and Finance; support supplier claims and returns. Improve SAP usage, reporting, and standard work; close audit findings and enforce ethics, safety, quality, and environmental requirements. 10%

Other duties as assigned.

Accountability and Scope:

Accountable for ICP raw material purchasing execution and buyer/planner performance.

Measures include material availability/line interruptions, supplier on-time delivery, overdue orders, raw material DIOH, excess/obsolete exposure, premium freight, and planning-data accuracy; targets are set through plant objectives.

Approve transactions only within delegated authority and approved sourcing agreements.

Category Management retains category strategy, sourcing awards, and commercial agreement ownership.

Annual spend and operating budget.

Production scheduling and warehouse operations remain with their respective process owners.

About You:

Minimum 7 years in manufacturing purchasing/materials planning, including 3 years leading buyers/planners or a comparable team

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field, providing the foundation for material planning, purchasing analysis, and operational management. APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP certification preferred.

Strong hands-on knowledge of MRP, SAP purchasing/material planning, inventory policies, and purchase order management.

Proven results in material availability, supplier delivery, inventory reduction, shortage recovery, and premium freight prevention.

Ability to analyze demand, capacity, lead times, inventory exposure, and cost tradeoffs; proficiency in Excel and reporting tools; Power BI preferred.

Effective supplier escalation, negotiation within delegated authority, root cause analysis, and project management skills.

Demonstrated coaching, performance management, cross-functional collaboration, and sound judgment under pressure.

Professional working proficiency in English and Spanish, written and spoken, for local and international coordination.

#LI-KRL

At Littelfuse, we support employee growth and development. Guided by our culture principles, our teams work together to deliver value for customers and make a positive impact in the communities where we operate. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow and contribute. We offer competitive compensation and benefits, performance-based incentives, flexible work arrangements, and development opportunities.