Job Description

The Senior Director, Vendor Order Operations and Management is a strategic leadership role responsible for end-to-end vendor order management, supply-side operations, and forecasting across the North America supply chain. This role leads a high-performing team focused on order planning, vendor relations, and supply chain execution, ensuring product flow from vendor to customer is efficient, accurate, and aligned to business priorities. As a key cross-functional partner, this leader drives alignment across Merchandising, Finance, Technology, and Fulfillment while representing the function at the executive level.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Build and lead a high-performing team across order planning, forecasting, vendor management, and supply operations
• Set clear goals, drive accountability, and develop talent within the team
• Partner with senior leadership to attract and retain top talent
• Represent vendor order management in cross-functional and executive-level initiatives

Vendor Order Management & Relations

• Own the end-to-end vendor order lifecycle from PO creation through receipt and inventory availability
• Establish and enforce vendor compliance standards, SLAs, and performance expectations
• Lead vendor relationships and serve as the escalation point for supply disruptions and constraints
• Drive vendor performance through scorecards and ongoing reviews

Supply Operations, Inventory Planning & Forecasting

• Align purchase order volumes with demand forecasts, open-to-buy targets, and inventory goals
• Identify and resolve supply chain bottlenecks, lead time variability, and inventory imbalances
• Establish and monitor KPIs (in-stock rate, inventory turns, weeks of supply, fill rate)
• Forecast receipts and manage prioritization within budget and capacity constraints
• Coordinate and optimize product flow through distribution centers

Project Management & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead large-scale supply chain initiatives including system implementations and process improvements
• Establish structured project management practices to ensure delivery on time and within scope
• Drive continuous improvement through data, technology, and process optimization

Cross-Functional Partnership & Executive Reporting

• Serve as the primary liaison to Merchandising, Finance, Fulfillment, and Technology leadership
• Deliver executive-level reporting on supply chain performance and strategic initiatives
• Contribute to long-range planning and overall supply chain strategy

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in supply chain, inventory planning, or vendor order management
• 4+ years in a senior leadership role managing teams and complex operations
• Deep expertise in inventory planning, vendor management, and supply chain execution within retail or consumer goods
• Proven ability to lead teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders at a senior level
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a focus on continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and executive presence
• Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Supply Chain, or related field)
• Ability to travel up to ~15%