Purchasing Coordinator in Mankato, Minnesota at Kato Cable LLC

Kato Cable is hiring a Purchasing Coordinator to provide administrative and transactional support to our Purchasing team.

In this role, you’ll manage purchase order activities, communicate with suppliers, and maintain accurate information in our ERP system. You’ll also serve as the primary contact for routine supplier follow-up, helping ensure purchase orders are acknowledged, accurately maintained, and delivered on schedule to support manufacturing operations.

This position may be a great fit if you:

• Notice the details others miss
• Enjoy managing multiple priorities and deadlines
• Communicate professionally with suppliers and internal teams
• Take pride in accurate records and consistent follow-through
• Work well in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

You’ll work closely with our Buyers and Strategic Sourcing team while playing an important role in keeping materials—and production—moving in the right direction.

Pay: $24–$26 per hour
Location: Mankato, Minnesota/On-site
Schedule: Full-time, non-exempt position, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

If you’re detail-driven, dependable, and ready to put your organizational skills to work, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and join the Kato Cable team!

The Purchasing Coordinator provides administrative and transactional support to the Purchasing team by managing purchase order activities, supplier communications, and ERP system maintenance. This role is responsible for ensuring purchase orders are acknowledged, accurately maintained, and delivered on schedule to support manufacturing operations. The Purchasing Coordinator acts as the primary point of contact for routine supplier follow-up and order management while supporting Buyers and Strategic Sourcing personnel.

Purchase Order Administration

• Create and process purchase orders as directed by Buyers.
• Review and distribute purchase orders to suppliers.
• Obtain and track supplier order acknowledgements.
• Verify pricing, quantities, and delivery dates are accurately reflected in the ERP system.
• Update purchase order dates, quantities, and other required information in ERP/MRP systems.
• Maintain accurate purchasing records and documentation.

• Monitor open purchase orders and proactively contact suppliers regarding delivery commitments.
• Follow up on overdue acknowledgements and late shipments.
• Communicate changes in delivery schedules to Buyers, Planning, and Manufacturing teams.
• Expedite critical orders when required to support production schedules.
• Escalate potential supply disruptions to Buyers and Purchasing Management.

• Maintain supplier and purchase order information within ERP systems.
• Update lead times, acknowledgements, shipment dates, and other purchasing-related data.
• Run and distribute open-order reports and expediting reports.
• Ensure purchasing records are complete and accurate.

• Work closely with Buyers, Production Planning, Inventory Control, Receiving, Accounting, and Customer Service.
• Assist with resolving receipt and invoice discrepancies.
• Support inventory accuracy initiatives and reporting activities.

• Maintain open purchase order tracking reports.
• Track supplier delivery performance metrics.
• Generate routine purchasing reports as assigned.
• Assist with supplier scorecard data collection.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience, Competencies and Education

High School Diploma or GED required. Associate's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or related discipline preferred.

2+ years of purchasing, procurement, customer service, order management, inventory control, or manufacturing support experience. Manufacturing experience strongly preferred. Experience working with ERP/MRP systems preferred.

• Language Skills

Ability to communicate professionally with suppliers, Buyers, Planning, Manufacturing, Receiving, Accounting, Customer Service, and other cross-functional teams regarding purchase orders, delivery schedules, discrepancies, and routine follow-up.

• Mathematical Skills

Ability to verify pricing, quantities, delivery dates, order acknowledgements, supplier metrics, and purchasing report data with accuracy.

• Reasoning Ability

Ability to prioritize open purchase order follow-up, identify potential supply disruptions, escalate issues appropriately, and manage multiple time-sensitive tasks in support of production schedules.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
• Experience with ERP systems such as JobBOSS, M1, or similar systems.
• Strong data-entry accuracy and attention to detail.
• Exceptional organizational skills, urgency, follow-through, and customer service mindset.
• Detail-oriented and process-focused with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND MEASURES

• Ability to accomplish assigned tasks safely.
• Adherence to the Quality Policy and ISO Procedural Requirements.
• Ability to maintain clean work areas and follow good housekeeping practices.
• Ability to follow work rules, work independently, be flexible and be willing to perform a variety of jobs.
• Ability to work effectively, courteously and respectfully with other personnel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed primarily in a typical office setting using standard office equipment such as a computer, phone, printer, and related business systems.

The employee may spend extended periods sitting at a desk, working on a computer, communicating by phone or email, and interacting with internal team members and suppliers.

The noise level in the work environment is typically low to moderate. Occasional movement through production, receiving, or warehouse areas may be required to coordinate purchasing-related activities.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.