Head of Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing

Head of Supply Chain & Strategic SourcingPosition Summary:This is a high-impact leadership opportunity designed to strengthen and advance supply chain operations across a multi-site manufacturing organization. The Head of Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing will have significant autonomy to design, lead, and execute improvements that shape how materials, inventory, sourcing, and supplier relationships are managed across U.S. locations.This role is ideal for a self-starter who thrives on ownership, problem-solving, and driving measurable results. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence processes, performance, and culture while establishing greater structure, accountability, and consistency across the supply chain function.The position owns the end-to-end supply chain function, including strategic sourcing, supplier management, planning, inventory, materials management, and logistics. The role will identify and close operational gaps while improving cost, efficiency, inventory performance, and supplier reliability.The Head of Supply Chain & Strategic Sourcing will lead a small supply chain team and collaborate closely with Operations, Sales, Finance, Project Management, Warehouse, and Engineering.Essential Job FunctionsOperational Ownership & AutonomyTake ownership of supply chain processes, identifying gaps and implementing effective solutions.Establish structure, standards, and discipline where processes are incomplete, inconsistent, or require rebuilding.Make data-driven decisions to achieve key performance indicators and align departmental activities with organizational goals.Serve as the primary escalation point for supplier, inventory, planning, materials, and logistics challenges.Drive continuous improvement across the supply chain organization.Strategic Sourcing & Supplier ManagementManage domestic and international supplier relationships, optimizing cost, quality, delivery, and lead times.Lead the transition from a centralized supply chain model to site-specific ordering responsibilities while maintaining visibility, control, and standardized processes across locations.Establish the framework, responsibilities, controls, and reporting mechanisms necessary to support decentralized ordering.Ensure consistent cost management, inventory accuracy, and operational oversight across all locations.Identify opportunities to increase domestic sourcing while utilizing international suppliers when strategically appropriate.Develop and implement corrective actions for recurring costing and supplier-related issues in collaboration with Finance and Operations.Manage tariff and customs brokerage relationships, including accurate classification, mitigation strategies, and allocation of costs across locations.Cost Management & Savings InitiativesIdentify, quantify, and implement annual cost-saving initiatives across raw materials, components, outside processes, and logistics.Track and report cost savings, supplier performance, purchase price variances, and other financial metrics in partnership with Finance.Reduce expedited freight and overall logistics costs through improved planning, supplier performance, and process optimization.Develop and execute supplier negotiation strategies to mitigate cost increases and improve overall value.Inventory Management, Accuracy & ControlDrive inventory accuracy above 98% through collaboration with Operations, Warehouse, and Finance.Reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory through improved planning, supplier negotiations, and consumption analysis.Oversee safety stock strategies, cycle count programs, and inventory reduction initiatives.Establish consistent inventory controls and accountability across all locations.Monitor inventory performance and develop corrective actions when targets are not achieved.Planning, Forecasting & ERP DisciplinePartner with Sales and Operations to ensure forecasts and site-level ordering align with demand, production requirements, and safety stock levels.Ensure ERP system settings, work orders, bills of materials, purchasing parameters, and order quantities are accurate and current.Oversee material shortage management and proactive material planning.Establish disciplined purchasing and planning processes across locations.Support ERP implementation and optimization through process mapping, system testing, data validation, and employee training.