Procurement Specialist

Procurement Specialist

Location: Duluth, GA  

Department: Operations 

Reports to: Materials Manager

Direct Reports: None 

Type: Full-Time  

Status: Exempt

Schedule: Hybrid M-F (4 days in office; Friday remote)   

Compensation: $65,000 - $72,000annually + Bonus

 

The Role

We're seeking a Procurement Specialist to play a key role in ensuring IPA has the right materials, from the right suppliers, at the right cost, and at the right time.

This position is responsible for strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, inventory optimization, and procurement process improvement that directly supports manufacturing operations.

Working closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and suppliers, you'll help strengthen our supply chain by reducing risk, improving supplier performance, controlling costs, and ensuring uninterrupted material availability.

This is an opportunity to make a measurable impact on operational performance while helping IPA scale for continued growth.

What You'll Do


* Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers based on cost, quality, delivery performance, business continuity, and long-term strategic value.


* Negotiate supplier pricing, contracts, delivery schedules, payment terms, and service expectations to optimize total cost of ownership.


* Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while monitoring performance through scorecards, continuous feedback, and ongoing improvement initiatives.


* Develop dual-source strategies and alternative supply options to reduce single-source risk and improve supply chain resiliency.


* Partner with suppliers to resolve quality concerns, coordinate rejected material returns, and ensure appropriate supplier credits are received.


* Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with cross-functional teams to maintain material availability while minimizing excess inventory and carrying costs.


* Manage purchasing activities and ensure procurement requirements are communicated effectively across internal stakeholders.


* Verify supplier invoices against purchase orders and contracts while partnering with Accounts Payable to ensure timely and accurate payment processing.


* Maintain accurate vendor, item, pricing, and transaction data within the ERP system (Rootstock/Salesforce) to support planning and operational accuracy.


* Support Bill of Material (BOM) reviews and data reconciliation with Engineering and Quality teams.


* Assist with trade compliance activities including country-of-origin documentation, HTS classifications, tariff monitoring, and environmental compliance documentation (RoHS, REACH, certifications).


* Analyze procurement metrics including supplier performance, spend, inventory trends, and cost savings opportunities to support continuous improvement initiatives.


* Collaborate across Operations, Production, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to align proc...