Purchasing Manager

Job Title: Purchasing Manager
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
TP

Meridia Recruitment Solutions has partnered with Cherubini Bridges and Structures in their search for a Purchasing Manager to join their team in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

For more than 50 years, Cherubini Bridges and Structures has been a recognized leader in the design, fabrication, and erection of complex steel structures throughout North America. Known for delivering high-quality solutions across the bridge, heavy civil, industrial, and commercial sectors, Cherubini has built its reputation on technical expertise, strong customer relationships, and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

As the organization continues to grow and execute large-scale projects, they are seeking a Purchasing Manager to provide leadership across their procurement function and help shape the company's purchasing strategy for the future.

Role Description

Reporting to the CFO, the Purchasing Manager is responsible for leading Cherubini Bridges and Structures purchasing function, overseeing strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier relationships, inventory management, procurement planning, and purchasing strategy. Leading a team of Buyers, this role plays a critical part in ensuring materials and services are sourced effectively to support project schedules, operational requirements, and business objectives.

The Purchasing Manager will combine hands-on procurement leadership with a strategic mindset, monitoring market conditions, evaluating purchasing opportunities and risks, and providing market intelligence that supports informed business decisions. Working closely with Finance, Operations, Estimating, Project Management, and suppliers, the successful candidate will contribute to purchasing strategies that balance cost, quality, inventory levels, cash flow, and project delivery requirements.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead and develop a team of Buyers while providing day-to-day direction, coaching, and support.
• Develop and execute procurement strategies that align with operational requirements, project schedules, and business objectives.
• Lead sourcing activities for major material purchases, including steel procurement and supplier contract negotiations.
• Monitor steel markets, commodity pricing, supply chain trends, tariffs, exchange rates, and other factors that may influence purchasing decisions.
• Provide market intelligence, recommendations, and purchasing insights to senior leadership.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers while identifying and evaluating new sourcing opportunities.
• Negotiate pricing, contract terms, and supplier agreements to optimize value and manage risk.
• Partner closely with Project Management, Estimating, Finance, and Operations teams to support project execution and procurement planning.
• Oversee inventory management practices to ensure alignment between purchasing activities, project requirements, and working capital objectives.
• Analyze purchasing data, inventory trends, and market conditions to support informed decision making.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, increased efficiency, and stronger purchasing controls.
• Support ERP and inventory system utilization while promoting data accuracy and reporting effectiveness.
• Evaluate procurement risks and develop mitigation strategies to support operational continuity.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across purchasing, inventory management, and supplier performance.

Your Qualifications
The ideal candidate is an experienced procurement leader who combines strong commercial acumen with a collaborative leadership style. You bring experience managing purchasing activities in industrial, manufacturing, construction, or project-based environments and understand how strategic procurement decisions can directly impact operational and financial performance.

You are comfortable leading teams, challenging assumptions, and providing recommendations to senior leadership. A strong negotiator and relationship builder, you take a proactive approach to identifying opportunities, managing risk, and driving continuous improvement.

Your qualifications include:

• 7+ years of experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or sourcing roles within industrial, manufacturing, construction, mining, aerospace, or similar project-based environments.
• Previous experience leading or supervising purchasing professionals.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing strategic procurement initiatives.
• Strong supplier management and contract negotiation experience.
• Experience managing significant material purchasing programs and inventory requirements.
• Strong understanding of market analysis, purchasing strategy, and cost management principles.
• Experience balancing operational requirements, inventory levels, cash flow considerations, and project timelines.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to leverage data to support decision making.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills.
• Experience working closely with Finance, Operations, Estimating, and Project Management teams.
• Experience within steel, structural steel, manufacturing, fabrication, construction, or related industrial sectors would be considered an asset.
• Professional supply chain or procurement designations such as SCMP would be considered an asset.

Why Join Cherubini?

• Competitive compensation package.
• Bonus program.
• Opportunity to lead an established purchasing team and influence procurement strategy across the organization.
• Exposure to large-scale, complex projects throughout North America.
• Collaborative culture that values new ideas and continuous improvement.
• Ability to work closely with executive leadership and contribute to key business decisions.