Director of Materials

Overview
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Purchasing to lead our global sourcing, supplier management, procurement, and manufacturing planning functions. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in importing from international markets—specifically China, India, and Bangladesh—and will demonstrate proven success in negotiating supplier contracts, coordinating supply with production schedules, managing risk, and driving cost efficiencies while ensuring quality and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Procurement Leadership: Direct the company’s purchasing strategy across all categories, aligning procurement goals with business objectives.
• Global Sourcing & Imports:
• Manage the end-to-end import process from China, India, Bangladesh, and other global markets.
• Oversee vendor selection, onboarding, compliance, and performance monitoring.
• Ensure adherence to import/export regulations, tariff requirements, and U.S. Customs procedures.
• Contract Negotiation:
• Lead negotiations on pricing, terms, lead times, and service levels with international suppliers.
• Develop long-term agreements to secure supply and mitigate risk.
• Establish supplier performance metrics, KPIs, and escalation procedures.
• Manufacturing Planning:
• Collaborate with Operations and Production teams to align purchasing with manufacturing schedules, inventory targets, and capacity planning.
• Balance raw material availability with demand forecasts to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Support just-in-time (JIT) and lean manufacturing initiatives.
• Cost Optimization: Identify opportunities for cost savings through supplier consolidation, alternative sourcing, freight/logistics efficiencies, and total cost of ownership strategies.
• Risk & Compliance:
• Mitigate risks related to geopolitical shifts, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory changes.
• Ensure supplier compliance with ethical sourcing, labor standards, and sustainability initiatives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Operations, Finance, and Quality teams to align purchasing and production activities with company goals.
• Team Development: Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing procurement and planning team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, International Trade, or related field.
• Relevant professional experience may be considered in place of a degree.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in procurement, supply chain, and manufacturing planning, including leadership roles.
• Proven expertise in importing from China, India, and Bangladesh, with strong understanding of customs clearance, HS codes, tariffs, and logistics.
• Demonstrated success in supplier contract negotiation and long-term global sourcing strategies.
• Experience in production scheduling, capacity planning, and coordinating purchasing with manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of ERP and procurement systems; proficiency with data analysis tools.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to drive cost reduction initiatives without sacrificing quality.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and cross-cultural relationship management skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with fiberglass, bamboo, textiles, or agricultural support products.
• Familiarity with trade compliance, tariff classification, and free trade agreements.
• Background in sustainability and ethical sourcing initiatives.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, MRP systems, and demand forecasting tools.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $100,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• procurement, supply chain, and manufacturing planning: 10 years (Required)
• leadership roles.: 5 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person