Director of Purchasing

Position Summary

The Director of Purchasing drives the strategic, ethical, and profitable procurement of products across a global manufacturing network. Operating cross-functionally, this role establishes supply chain resilience, enforces operational efficiency, and aligns global vendor partnerships with customer demand, revenue targets, and margin expectations. The Director leads and elevates a high-performing team of Buyer/Planners, optimizing order lifecycle execution from forecast to delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• People Management: Mentor and elevate the Buyer/Planner team, establishing clear KPIs, accountability frameworks, and performance metrics to drive operational success.
• Process Governance: Establish, standardize, and monitor key workflows across Purchase Order (PO) entry, Work-in-Progress (WIP) tracking, and inventory receipts to maintain seamless communication across international factory networks.
• Vendor Financial Health: Oversee efficient vendor invoice processing and audit workflows to ensure on-time payment terms, supporting supplier financial stability and long-term strategic alignment.
• WIP & Status Reporting: Maintain real-time WIP reporting with overseas partners; proactively communicate both milestones and production delays to cross-functional business partners.

Operational & Sourcing Strategy

• Operational Excellence: Institute purchasing best practices through continuous evaluation, workflow optimization, and strategic capacity planning.
• SOP Frameworks: Standardize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and comprehensive training documentation to ensure consistent global procurement execution.
• Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Vetting: Ensure order placement occurs exclusively with vetted suppliers meeting product development milestones, cost targets, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) compliance standards.
• Risk Mitigation & Scorecards: Partner with Supply Chain leadership to assess vendor performance, evaluate risk via structured supplier scorecards, and implement proactive contingency strategies.

Global Vendor Compliance & Order Fulfillment

• Compliance Oversight: Collaborate annually with internal Compliance teams to update, distribute, and enforce the Vendor Compliance Manual across all manufacturing partners.
• End-to-End Lifecycle Management: Manage the full order lifecycle—from demand forecasting and PO creation to logistics tracking and final warehouse receipt.
• Capacity & Allocation Management: Coordinate weekly PO distribution across vendor networks based on strategic allocation frameworks, optimizing factory capacity against forecast demand.
• Logistics Alignment: Partner with global freight and logistics teams to maintain end-to-end visibility from factory origin to final fulfillment.

Financial Administration & Audit Control

• Invoicing & Reconciliation: Oversee the review and submission of vendor invoices, credit notes, and debit notes to Accounts Payable, ensuring full data integrity.
• Audit & Revenue Recovery: Partner with Compliance and Accounting to enforce vendor chargeback protocols and recover non-compliance expenses.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field.
• Experience:
  • 8–10 years of progressive experience in international purchasing, overseas manufacturing, and global supply chain management.
  • 4+ years of direct leadership experience managing procurement or planning professionals.
• Core Competency & Technical Skills:
  • Strong analytical acumen with demonstrated proficiency in financial negotiation, cost analysis, and volume allocation.
  • Deep experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms, MRP modules, and advanced procurement software.
  • Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and conflict-resolution capabilities in fast-paced environments.