POSITION SUMMARY
The Purchasing and Inventory Manager exists to prevent production stoppages by staying ahead of component availability. Because every Talon Screens order is custom-built — we do not maintain stock levels of repeated items — the core value of this role is translating historical usage and projected demand into accurate lead-time coverage for each component, including color and material mix ratios, rather than relying on simple reorder-point triggers. This is a heavily analytical, reconciliation-driven position: incoming inventory must be continuously matched against open purchase orders to confirm what has arrived, what remains outstanding, and where risk to production sits. This is a foundational role reporting directly to the VP of Product, with regular coordination with the Production Manager on component availability.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Inventory Forecasting & Demand Planning
- Analyze historical usage and projected build schedules to calculate lead times per component and vendor.
- Flag at-risk components before they threaten a production build.
- Forecast color and material mix ratios based on order trends.
- Maintain visibility into what's committed vs. available across active and upcoming builds.
- Partner closely with the VP of Product to verify demand data, validate forecasts, and structure larger-scale orders.
Purchasing & Procurement
- Generate purchase orders.
- Manage vendor relationships and negotiate terms.
- Perform costing analysis on components and materials.
- Track and expedite open orders as needed.
Receiving & PO Reconciliation
- Receive incoming inventory shipments and verify against open purchase orders for quantity, cost, and accuracy.
- Reconcile discrepancies between what was ordered, what was received, and what was invoiced.
- Maintain an accurate, real-time picture of open PO status to support forecasting and production planning.
Inventory Accuracy & Counts
- Conduct full inventory counts on a defined cadence.
- Perform spot counts and cycle counts to catch discrepancies early.
- Verify Bill of Materials (BOM) accuracy against actual builds.
- Reconcile system records to physical stock and investigate variances.
Accounts Payable Coordination
- Match vendor invoices to purchase orders and receipts (three-way match).
- Resolve billing and pricing discrepancies directly with vendors.
- Prepare and route approved invoices for payment processing.
This position does not have access to company bank accounts or payment disbursement systems. Accounts payable responsibilities are limited to matching, reconciliation, and discrepancy resolution; fund disbursement remains with Finance/ownership.
Systems & Process Development
- Serve as a power user of Talon Screens' purchasing and inventory system.
- Act as a key contributor to shaping and refining the new integrated system connecting purchasing, inventory, and shop floor work instructions as it is developed.
Vendor & New Hire Onboarding
- Onboard new suppliers — account setup, terms negotiation, and qualification.
- Support general new-employee onboarding.
Cross-Functional Communication
- Serve as the VP of Product's primary analytical partner on inventory data, demand verification, and order strategy.
- Coordinate with the Production Manager on component availability and build-schedule impact as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Experience in purchasing, inventory, or supply chain within a manufacturing environment.
- Strong analytical and Excel/data skills — comfortable building and interpreting forecasts.
- Experience working with Bills of Materials (BOMs).
- Accounts payable / invoice-to-PO reconciliation experience (three-way match).
- Comfort with heavy reconciliation work — matching receiving records against open purchase orders and vendor invoices with a high degree of accuracy.
- Strong cross-functional communication skills.
Preferred
- Experience in a custom or make-to-order manufacturing environment specifically (not mass-production/stock replenishment) — the forecasting logic differs meaningfully.
- Experience with ERP or inventory management software.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Primarily office-based, with regular time on the production floor for inventory counts and receiving verification.
- Ability to lift up to 40 pounds occasionally.
- Ability to stand, walk, and move through warehouse and production areas during counts and receiving.
EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
- 90-day introductory period.
- At-will employment in the State of Georgia.
- Background check required as a condition of employment.
- Must comply with all Talon Screens policies and procedures as outlined in the Team Playbook (Employee Handbook).
Pay: $60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
