Full-Time

Purchasing Manager

Ocean Optics

Ocean Optics

51-200 employees

Manufactures portable spectrometers and sensing solutions

No salary listed

Sussex, NJ, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid work is available.

Bachelor's

Category
Operations & Logistics (2)
,
Required Skills
Supply Chain Management
Inventory Management
Forecasting
ISO 9001

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Requirements
  • Strong presentation skills with the ability to effectively communicate to the wider business.
  • Experience with key performance indicator metric management and deployment.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills to work effectively with diverse groups of people within and outside the organization.
  • Experience coaching, developing, and mentoring procurement teams.
  • Experience with vendor management and supplier negotiations.
  • Proven ability to problem-solve.
  • Extensive experience in supplier negotiations, cost reduction programs, lean management, and inventory management.
  • Strong project management, communication, and analytical skills.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English.
  • A preferred bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations/Manufacturing Management, or Engineering, or equivalent experience.
  • Eight to ten years of experience in procurement or a related environment demonstrating progressive responsibility.
  • Three to five years of experience leading procurement or supply chain teams.
  • Knowledge of and adherence to policies and procedures relating to electrical component requirements and the current revision of ISO 9001.
  • Experience with D365 is a plus.
  • Experience in electronics manufacturing or mechanical assemblies is a plus.
  • ASCM or APICS certifications such as Certified Supply Chain Professional, Certified in Planning and Inventory Management, Certified Professional in Supply Management, or ASQ Certified Quality Engineer or Certified Quality Auditor certification is preferred.
Responsibilities
  • Own and continuously evolve the end-to-end procurement and purchasing operating model for the Wisconsin and New Jersey plants, encompassing sourcing, contracting, planning, inventory, warehouse, and supplier management.
  • Define and implement procurement governance, processes, and tools aligned with Global Procurement, Global Quality, and cross-site purchasing frameworks.
  • Own purchase price variance, savings targets, cost reduction tracking, supplier accountability, inventory levels, and reductions in total landed cost, freight, and cost of goods sold.
  • Ensure continuity of supply for critical and high-risk materials and provide escalation support when needed.
  • Lead the Purchasing Department, including Operational and Project Buyer/Planner roles, with clear priorities, decision rights, accountability, lean daily management, tier participation, and key performance indicator reporting.
  • Build and develop a best-in-class procurement organization, including coaching, capability development, performance management, and succession planning.
  • Define, implement, and track departmental, team, and individual key performance indicators linked to business objectives, sales and operations planning, and operational performance.
  • Own inventory strategy in collaboration with Logistics Management, balancing material availability, capacity, and risk through forecast-driven purchasing planning.
  • Lead supplier identification, selection, sourcing, and complex commercial negotiations, ensuring favorable commercial, operational, quality, and contractual outcomes.
  • Lead commercial evaluations and supplier negotiations to ensure optimal cost, quality, and delivery while managing performance, mitigating risk, and supporting long-term development.
  • Act as the primary United States procurement interface to Operations, Research and Development, Production Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Global Operations.
  • Provide procurement leadership for new product introduction, sustaining engineering, obsolescence, and end-of-life planning, enabling on-time launches, risk buys, and continuity of supply.
  • Own make-or-buy decisions and provide recommendations to leadership.
  • Monitor, analyze, and report procurement performance, risks, and opportunities to site and executive leadership on a recurring basis.
  • Drive continuous improvement and sustainability projects across procurement processes, systems, master data, and ways of working.
  • Support additional activities aligned with business priorities.

Ocean Optics makes compact spectroscopy hardware and related optical sensing tools. Its flagship products are miniature, portable spectrometers used to measure light across wavelengths for scientists and engineers in fields like chemical analysis, environmental monitoring, and industrial sensing. The devices work by detecting light that passes through or reflects from a sample and translating it into a spectrum—the distribution of light by wavelength—using optical components and a small detector. The company differentiates itself with a modular approach and small, affordable spectrometers that can be integrated into custom systems or handheld devices, enabling researchers to build compact spectroscopic tools rather than relying on large, expensive lab equipment. Ocean Optics' goal is to broaden access to spectral data by providing versatile, scalable sensing solutions that allow users to deploy spectroscopy across a wide range of applications and environments.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Dunedin, Florida

Founded

1989

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Halma reported 8% photonics organic revenue growth in FY26, lifting Ocean Optics demand.
  • Ocean Optics added 2026 conference booths across Europe, Asia, and North America.
  • Bioz engagement rose in 2025, improving citation visibility and lead generation.

What critics are saying

  • Avantes and Hamamatsu pressure pricing and performance in compact spectroscopy markets.
  • Moxchange LLC v. Ocean Optics, Inc. remains an active legal distraction and cost.
  • Distributor dependence on Edmund Optics can weaken direct customer control by 2027.

What makes Ocean Optics unique

  • Ocean Optics invented miniature spectroscopy and still sells modular instruments globally.
  • Halma backed Ocean Optics since 2004, supplying capital, distribution, and operational stability.
  • The Edmund Optics marketplace partnership, announced September 22, 2025, widens customer access.

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Benefits

Performance Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

-2%

1 year growth

-1%

2 year growth

1%
Ocean Optics
Aug 12th, 2025
Ocean Optics Partners with Edmund Optics for Global Distribution

ORLANDO, Fla. - (August 14, 2025) - Ocean Optics, a pioneer in modular spectroscopy and a trusted name in optical sensing, is proud to announce a new Supplier Partner relationship with Edmund Optics.

Ocean Optics
Jun 23rd, 2025
Ocean Optics Launches Bioz Tool

To further enhance visibility and engagement, Ocean Optics has also added a Bioz Homepage Banner, ensuring that visitors immediately discover the powerful citation management capabilities available on its website.

EIN News
Sep 8th, 2023
Ocean Insight Announces Richard Curran as New President

Ocean Insight announces Richard Curran as new president.

Ocean Insight
Jun 22nd, 2023
Women in Engineering Day 2023

Ocean Insight has been named the Best Place to Work in both Central Florida and New York state.

Ocean Insight
May 3rd, 2023
Press Release: New Ocean SR series

Orlando, Florida, USA (May 4, 2023) – Ocean Optics, a brand of Ocean Insight, introduces compact, versatile Ocean SR series spectrometers distinguished by their rapid spectral acquisition speed and high signal to noise ratio (SNR) performance.