Job Description

Supply Chain Manager 

Summary

The Supply Chain Manager leads global sourcing, procurement, logistics, warehouse operations, and supply chain systems to ensure timely, cost-effective, and compliant material availability for a diverse industrial automation product portfolio. This role manages buyers, planners, and warehouse personnel and is responsible for supplier performance, risk mitigation, inventory strategy, data/ERP integrity, and continuous improvement across the end-to-end supply chain. The role also partners cross-functionally to support S&OP, business continuity, and operational excellence initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Global Sourcing & Supplier Relationship Management

• Lead sourcing strategies for domestic and international suppliers across metals, machined components, bearings, motors, controls, and electronic devices.
• Own supplier selection, business allocation, negotiation (pricing, terms, capacity), and contract management.
• Monitor and improve supplier KPIs: OTIF, quality PPM, lead-time adherence, responsiveness, and capacity commitments.
• Drive supply chain risk reduction: dual-sourcing, geographic diversification, financial/risk assessments, and contingency planning.
• Partner with Quality on supplier audits, corrective actions, and ongoing improvement plans.

2. Procurement, Materials Planning & S&OP Alignment

• Manage purchasing team responsible for demand planning, MRP execution, PO management, and production material availability.
• Lead or support monthly S&OP cycles, forecast alignment, and capacity planning with Sales, Finance, and Operations.
• Implement should-cost analysis, TCO frameworks, and PPV tracking to drive cost optimization.
• Partner with Engineering and Production to ensure material readiness for NPI, custom builds, and order-driven manufacturing.
• Develop inventory strategies including safety stock, reorder points, and buffer planning.

3. Logistics & Transportation Management

• Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, including international freight, carrier management, customs brokerage, and Incoterms compliance.
• Reduce logistics costs through lane optimization, mode selection, and performance management with 3PL and freight forwarding partners.
• Lead freight budget forecasting and cost control.

4. Warehouse Operations, Inventory Control & Safety

• Provide direction to warehouse supervisors and staff on receiving, put-away, picking, cycle counting, and material accuracy.
• Own the cycle count program, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions to maintain high inventory accuracy.
• Optimize warehouse layout, material flow, safety practices, and equipment utilization to improve throughput and service levels.
• Ensure OSHA compliance and drive continuous improvement in warehouse processes and productivity.

5. Compliance, Documentation & ERP/Data Governance

• Ensure adherence to import/export regulations and industry-specific requirements (Aero/Defense, Medical Device, Food Processing).
• Maintain compliance documentation: Certificates of Conformance, Country of Origin, ITAR/EAR screening, RoHS/REACH, SDS, and conflict minerals.
• Own ERP data integrity for sourcing, costing, BOM structure, lead times, planning parameters, and inventory records.
• Lead supply chain system improvements, including digital tools, dashboards, automation, and supplier connectivity.

6. Leadership, Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead, coach, and develop buyers, planners, and warehouse staff; establish clear roles, goals, and development plans.
• Partner with Engineering, Production, Quality, Sales, Finance, and Customer Service to align materials availability with business needs.
• Lead supply chain improvement projects, cost-savings initiatives, and business continuity planning.
• Provide data-driven reporting on supply chain performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in global supply chain, sourcing, or procurement.
• Prior experience managing teams (buyers, planners, warehouse/operations personnel).
• Strong understanding of metals sourcing, machining, electromechanical components, and industrial automation supply chains.
• Experience with international suppliers (Asia, Europe, North America) including negotiation and contract management.
• Knowledge of import/export regulations and materials compliance (ITAR/EAR, RoHS/REACH, CoO, conflict minerals).
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, planning parameters, and data-driven decision making.
• Analytical capability: cost modeling, forecasting, demand planning, lead time analysis, and KPI tracking.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated or compliance-heavy industries (A&D, Medical Device, Food Processing).
• APICS CSCP, CPIM, or equivalent certification.
• Lean/Six Sigma or continuous improvement training.
• Experience improving warehouse layout, processes, automation, or inventory control systems.
• Exposure to S&OP processes, digital transformation, or advanced analytics.

Key Metrics for Success

• Supplier OTIF and quality PPM
• Inventory turns, safety stock adherence, and cycle count variance
• Forecast and lead-time reliability
• PPV and total landed cost optimization
• Freight cost as % of revenue / cost per pound
• Dock-to-stock time, receiving/picking accuracy
• Compliance audit pass rate
• Team engagement, performance, and retention metrics