Supply Chain Director

About the Company

Our client, a U.S. branch of an award-winning European technology group, is a leader in innovation and sustainability. The company delivers thousands of products across global markets and serves high-reliability sectors such as aerospace, defense, and test & measurement. This specialized manufacturing facility operates in a high-mix, low-volume environment where precision, quality, and documentation are paramount. With strong cross-functional collaboration and near-full production capacity, the site is key to providing tailored solutions for mission-critical applications. This position is confidential; the company name and additional details will be shared with qualified candidates early in the interview process.

Title: Supply Chain Leader (Manager or Director Title Available)

Location: Somerset County, New Jersey

Reports to: Managing Director, Americas

The Position

Lead the end-to-end flow of materials, information, and resources across the supply chain to ensure efficient operations and strong performance against key business metrics. This role oversees core supply chain functions—including demand planning, material management, production planning, logistics, master data management, and procurement—while driving coordination across sales, manufacturing, finance, and global sourcing teams. The position focuses on optimizing supplier performance, improving delivery reliability, managing inventory health, and reducing total cost of ownership. A key priority is strengthening and developing the procurement function, building a team capable of supporting strategic, tactical, and operational purchasing initiatives. The role also drives continuous improvement across supply chain processes, resolves operational bottlenecks, and ensures alignment between planning, production capacity, and customer delivery commitments.

Duties

• Lead and manage end-to-end supply chain operations, including procurement, demand planning, material management, production planning, logistics, and master data management.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies aligned with overall business objectives in collaboration with sales, manufacturing, finance, and global sourcing teams.
• Manage and optimize the supplier base, including supplier selection, evaluation, development, and performance monitoring related to delivery reliability, quality, and risk.
• Lead negotiations with key suppliers and establish agreements and contracts that support supply continuity, favorable pricing, and long-term partnerships.
• Drive initiatives to reduce total cost of ownership, including material costs, logistics efficiency, inventory levels, payment terms, and lead times.
• Oversee inventory management, demand planning, and production planning processes to ensure alignment between customer demand, production capacity, and delivery commitments.
• Monitor and report on key supply chain performance metrics, including delivery performance, supplier on-time delivery, inventory turnover, purchase price variances, and cost savings initiatives.
• Participate in S&OP processes to support forecasting accuracy, demand planning, and operational alignment across departments.
• Ensure accurate purchasing, planning, and inventory data within ERP systems and support strong data governance across the organization.
• Lead and develop procurement, planning, and supply chain team members through coaching, training, and performance management.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement solutions that improve supply chain efficiency, supplier performance, and overall operational effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across supply chain processes, including supplier lead times, planning strategies, and inventory optimization.
• Oversee logistics operations including inbound receiving, outbound shipping, warehousing, and inventory management while ensuring efficient transportation and compliance with import/export requirements.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the supply chain organization while ensuring adherence to company policies, ethical standards, and operational guidelines.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree required; Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in supply chain management, supply chain optimization, or related operational leadership roles; Minimum of 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience
• Strong knowledge of supply chain management principles, including procurement strategy, demand planning, production planning, logistics, and inventory management
• Demonstrated experience in both strategic and operational purchasing, including supplier negotiations and active supplier management
• Experience optimizing supplier performance, managing supplier risk, and driving cost reduction initiatives
• Strong knowledge of ERP systems, preferably SAP with Materials Management and Supply Chain Management modules
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex projects
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop teams
• Customer-focused with the ability to work effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability with a proactive problem-solving mindset
• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to drive operational and organizational change