Procurement Manager

At Noratel Group
, we design and manufacture customised transformers and wound magnetic components that power critical technologies across renewable energy, healthcare, transportation, and industrial automation. For more than a century, Noratel has been trusted for engineering excellence, reliability, and customer‑focused solutions that perform where it matters most.

With more than 2,200 employees worldwide
, Noratel operates production facilities across Europe, Asia, and North America. One of these is Shape LLC
, located in Addison, Illinois, and part of Noratel’s Magnetics Cluster. Shape specialises in mission‑critical, custom electrical transformers for demanding equipment manufacturers - combining the strength of a global group with the agility and collaboration of a local team.

Driven by:
Passion, Accountability, Customer Focus, Teamwork, and Excellence (PACTE), we foster a workplace where people support one another and consistently strive for high standards.

These values shape how we work every day and they guide the way we build our teams.
To support continued operational excellence at our Shape LLC site in Addison, IL, we are now looking for a Procurement Manager who combines structure, ownership, and a hands‑on mindset with a collaborative approach.

This is a hands‑on, operational role focused on ensuring reliable material availability, strong supplier partnerships, and cost‑effective procurement practices that support production continuity.

The successful candidate will be a structured and proactive professional, comfortable managing purchasing workflows, negotiating with suppliers, monitoring inventory, and collaborating closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, and Finance.

• Manage daily purchasing activities, including PO creation, confirmations, follow‑up, and delivery tracking
• Ensure timely availability of raw materials, components, and indirect supplies
• Maintain accurate ERP data (pricing, lead times, MOQ, supplier details)
• Monitor inventory levels and coordinate with Production Planning to avoid shortages or excess stock

• Act as the primary point of contact for suppliers
• Maintain strong relationships with existing suppliers and identify new sourcing opportunities as needed
• Monitor supplier performance (on‑time delivery, quality, responsiveness)
• Support resolution of supply disruptions and quality issues

• Identify and support cost‑reduction initiatives through negotiation and improved purchasing terms
• Monitor price developments, market trends, and BOM cost impacts
• Track and report Purchase Price Variance (PPV)

• Maintain purchasing records, contracts, certifications, quotations, and supplier files
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures and purchasing guidelines
• Support implementation of Kanban or vendor‑managed inventory solutions where applicable

• Support Engineering during NPI activities and RFQ/RFP processes
• Work closely with Operations to manage demand variability and supply continuity
• Partner with Finance on invoice discrepancies and supplier payment alignment
• Coordinate with Quality on supplier evaluations and corrective actions

• Track and report key procurement KPIs (OTD, inventory levels, MOQ adherence, PPV)
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on lead time reduction and supply stability
• Provide regular updates to the Director of Operations on risks, shortages, and supplier performance

• Degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Procurement, or a related field
• 3–5+ years of experience in purchasing or supply‑chain roles within a manufacturing environment
• Solid understanding of procurement processes and inventory management
• Proven negotiation skills and working knowledge of contracts and commercial terms
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• ERP experience required (Sage 500 is a plus)
• Analytical mindset with strong attention to detail and data accuracy
• Highly organised, dependable, and disciplined in follow‑up
• Professional, ethical, and results‑oriented