Director of Purchasing

Job Overview

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Purchasing organization is responsible for developing relationships with new suppliers, evaluating potential new products, leading RFPs, and purchasing. This role is responsible for leading purchasing management and supporting strategic sourcing activities including analyzing the company’s spending, identifying cost savings opportunities, evaluating supplier partnerships (capabilities and capacities), contract and price negotiations, generation of contracts to assure seamless availability of all products, and identification of new global sourcing possibilities.

The Director of Purchasing will lead the team to implement best practices, drive cost savings, and navigate supply chain disruptions. This role requires deep functional expertise, excellent negotiation and communication skills, and analytical and technical capabilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Recognizes and values customers and fellow associates by:

1. A) working to meet clearly stated internal and external customer requirements
2. B) looking for opportunities to improve work processes

• Generates and implements efficient purchasing management strategies.
• Negotiate for best possible cost service guarantee and develop “win-win” strategies that achieve sustainable relationships with suppliers.
• Analyzes and calculates costs of procurement and implement methods to decrease expenditures.
• Manages corporate risk and apply risk minimizing techniques.
• Discovers and partners with trustworthy suppliers.
• Leads and manages the development, evaluation, implementation, administration and coordination of purchasing, supplier/commodity strategies, and business process systems.
• Develop overall procurement strategy for all purchasing spend
• Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with existing suppliers for Flexsteel, improving supplier manager capabilities
• Partner with business unit and operations team leaders to execute strategies and implement projects with cross-functional impact
• Develop key performance indicators and incorporate into scorecards for critical suppliers
• Develops best practice purchasing processes, supplier competitive analysis and commodity research techniques and work together with cross-functional groups to implement.
• Analyzes industry trends to proactively identify supply base issues to minimize risk, protect continuity of supply, and utilize emerging opportunities.
• Implements purchasing processes based on forecasts for future demand, develops plan for meeting operational requirements and guides supplier diversification to deliver.
• Utilizes formal problem-solving methods to implement root cause corrective actions for reoccurring problems
• Lead a team to achieve company and department goals, mentoring and developing team members to build new skills and encourage professional growth
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics or business administration

7-10 years of experience in a progressively responsible procurement, sourcing or supply chain role. Procurement or inventory management certification through APICS or ISM preferred.

Ability to manage projects and establish clear goals and accountabilities to ensure successful delivery (on time, within budget, meeting agreed upon success criteria)

Strong analytical, negotiation, contracting, communication (verbal & written), influence and leadership skills.

Ability to think strategically (business processes, industry dynamics, short- and long-term impacts, supplier capabilities and manufacturing practices, general market conditions, etc.)

Results oriented, proactive, independent

Strong preference for some international purchasing experience

Advanced systems skills and working knowledge of SAP MM/PP, MS Office, with advanced Excel knowledge