Job Description

Our award-winning client is seeking a Supply Chain Leader (Director) to join their team.The Supply Chain Leader (Director) is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of all supply chain activities, including procurement, acquisition, and distribution of raw materials and outside services. This role will design and implement systems to support multi-site operations and optimize inventory levels to drive growth, manage lead times, and enhance competitive strategies. This leader will spearhead continuous improvement initiatives to increase supply chain velocity and profitability, encompassing contract negotiations, stocking strategies, supplier diversification, strategic partnerships, and ensuring access to supplier capacity across all market cycles. The Supply Chain Leader will cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships with suppliers, monitor market trends, and serve as a key resource to senior management on contract and procurement matters. This role manages an annual spend of $100M - $300M.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a supply chain model that optimizes production, safeguards market share, and generates value by securing access to raw materials and outside service capacity throughout all market conditions while maintaining market-leading quality and competitive pricing.
• Establish and nurture strategic partnerships with suppliers, distributors, and customers, creating communication channels for critical market collaborations and operational improvements.
• Define and execute contracts that support operational and scheduling efficiencies while ensuring timely product availability, particularly during periods of high demand. Coordinate supply chain recovery and growth plans as needed.
• Negotiate supplier agreements and contracts, including payment terms, securing optimal pricing, and monitoring the quality of purchased materials, services, and supplier performance.
• Lead business system improvements to enhance inventory investment value and operational flexibility. Collaborate with Sales, Inventory Control, Production Control, and Operations to gather input and ensure sustainability. Maintain planning and costing parameters for raw materials and outside services.
• Monitor commodity market pricing and developments within metal producing and metal removal supplier markets. Translate market insights into actionable strategies.
• Manage the scrap material resale process, including relationships with scrap dealers.
• Strategically identify and develop new domestic and international supply sources, ensuring technical capability, quality, and adherence to product standards.
• Conduct supplier reviews and develop recovery plans as required. Provide timely updates to Sales, Production Control, and Operations on purchase order status and customer inquiries.
• Support the development of layered delivery schedules in conjunction with Sales and Production Control for long-term manufacturing projects.
• Establish and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure supplier effectiveness and overall supply chain performance.
• Monitor and optimize inventory strategies, balancing cash flow, supplier relationships, and inventory availability.
• Provide technical expertise to internal teams regarding raw material supplier capabilities, supply chain quality levels, and general industry trends.
• Train and educate employees on procurement and supply chain methodologies and tools. Develop standard work instructions for onboarding and backup coverage.
• Travel to and conduct on-site vendor visits to evaluate and verify vendor capabilities and processes, ensuring alignment with company specifications and Quality Management Systems.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree in Operations/Business/Supply Chain Management or a technical discipline.
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in purchasing and sourcing within a manufacturing organization.
• 2-4 years of recent experience in the metals industry.
• Working knowledge of steelmaking processes, metallurgy, forging, heat-treating, machining, NDE, and metrology.
• Experience in a multi-plant manufacturing environment with steel purchasing.
• ISM (C.P.M., CPSM) and/or APICS (CPIM, CIRM, CSCP) certifications preferred.
• Strong understanding of fundamental business principles in the metals industry, including financial concepts (resources, assets, balance sheets, cash flow, fixed assets, margin, ROI) and their impact on business decisions.
• Knowledge of ERP/MRP functions, JD Edwards experience preferred.
• Demonstrated continuous improvement skills with experience in team-based initiatives that deliver profitability and velocity improvements.
• Project management skills to develop work agreements, project scopes, specifications, schedules, timelines, and deliverables.
• Excellent communication skills, enabling effective interaction with Operations, Sales, Customers, and Suppliers.
• Proficiency in MS Office.
• Ability to work safely in a heavy manufacturing environment.