Director of Supply Chain

About the role

Our client is a globally recognized manufacturer of highly engineered, automated capital equipment serving customers across multiple industries. For decades, they have designed and built complex, customized production systems that are known for their quality, innovation, and long-term reliability. Unlike standardized manufacturing environments, every project is engineered to order and can involve more than 1,000 individual components. Success depends on a sophisticated supply chain capable of supporting demanding production schedules while maintaining exceptional quality and delivery performance.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in supply chain, procurement, or operations within an OEM, engineered-to-order, or custom capital equipment manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing precision-fabricated components from machine shops and managing outsourced manufacturing processes, including heat treating, chrome plating, urethane processing, and similar value-added services.
• Strong background purchasing raw materials such as steel, aluminum, and other metals, as well as commercial components including motors, electrical assemblies, gearboxes, conveyors, and related industrial equipment.
• Experience supporting both engineered equipment production and a high-volume aftermarket/spare parts business.
• Proven success identifying, qualifying, and developing new suppliers while strengthening strategic partnerships and improving supplier performance.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing procurement professionals while implementing standardized processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• A forward-thinking leader who challenges the status quo, embraces innovation, and confidently identifies opportunities to improve operational performance.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Salesforce.
• Knowledge of ISO quality standards and involvement in ISO certification or compliance programs.
• Experience negotiating freight, logistics, and 3PL agreements in partnership with finance and executive leadership.
• Established supplier relationships across manufacturing, machining, and industrial component markets.
• Experience managing logistics for oversized, heavy, or international shipments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end supply chain organization, including purchasing, supplier management, expediting, logistics, and strategic make-versus-buy decisions.
• Manage approximately $50 million in annual procurement spend across raw materials, fabricated components, commercial parts, and production consumables.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of nine professionals, including procurement specialists and production processing personnel responsible for evaluating engineering drawings and determining internal versus outsourced manufacturing.
• Partner closely with Engineering to review Bills of Materials (BOMs), optimize sourcing strategies, and support highly customized equipment builds.
• Develop meaningful KPIs, supplier scorecards, and performance metrics that improve supplier accountability, delivery performance, cost control, and operational visibility.
• Expand and strengthen the supplier network by qualifying new vendors, cultivating strategic partnerships, and improving overall supplier performance.
• Oversee procurement for both new equipment production and the company's growing aftermarket and spare parts business.
• Direct shipping, receiving, freight management, and logistics activities for domestic and international shipments, including oversized equipment.
• Collaborate with Finance and executive leadership on freight strategy, carrier negotiations, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Support quality initiatives by ensuring procurement processes align with ISO standards and continuous improvement objectives.

About the Opportunity

Leadership is not looking for someone to simply maintain existing processes. They are seeking a leader who will assess the current operation, build upon its strengths, introduce modern supply chain practices, and create measurable improvements across sourcing, supplier performance, and operational efficiency. The work is challenging, dynamic, and highly collaborative. Every machine is custom engineered, every project presents unique sourcing challenges, and every day offers opportunities to solve complex manufacturing and supply chain problems.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This position leads one of the most strategically important functions within the organization. Nearly 60% of company revenue is supported by the supply chain team, making this role a key driver of operational excellence, profitability, and customer success.

Company Culture

The organization has built a reputation for retaining exceptional talent. Employees enjoy long careers, collaborative leadership, and a culture that values expertise, accountability, and continuous improvement. The company respects the institutional knowledge that comes from a tenured workforce while recognizing the importance of fresh perspectives. The ideal candidate will balance respect for established practices with the confidence to introduce new ideas, elevate standards, and help shape the future of the supply chain organization.