Director of Purchasing

Job Description

Our client, a leading global manufacturer of power generation systems and industrial equipment, is seeking an accomplished Director of Purchasing, North America to lead procurement strategy, supplier performance, cost optimization, and supply chain risk mitigation across its North American operations.

**This position is based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin**

This highly visible leadership position will play a critical role in strengthening the organization's global supply chain, driving material cost improvements, mitigating tariff exposure, and developing strategic supplier partnerships. The Director will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to implement procurement strategies that improve profitability, operational efficiency, and supply chain resilience.

In addition to overseeing North American purchasing activities, this individual will provide global procurement leadership for aftermarket operations and New Product Development (NPD) initiatives. The successful candidate will bring a combination of strategic sourcing expertise, strong commercial acumen, and hands-on leadership experience within a complex, multinational manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Procurement & Cost Optimization

• Lead North American purchasing activities, including sourcing strategy, supplier negotiations, material cost reduction, and procurement performance.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term category strategies aligned with business growth objectives and operational requirements.
• Drive measurable cost savings through strategic sourcing, supplier consolidation, contract negotiations, and value engineering initiatives.
• Lead tariff mitigation and supply chain risk reduction efforts, including supplier footprint analysis, alternative sourcing, and commercial negotiations.
• Maintain and expand a pipeline of cost improvement initiatives while ensuring accountability for project execution and financial results.

Supplier Management & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build and strengthen strategic relationships with key domestic and international suppliers to improve cost, quality, delivery, and overall performance.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, and Commercial leadership to align procurement strategies with enterprise objectives.
• Lead supplier escalations, resolve complex supply chain challenges, and ensure continuity of material availability.
• Support global procurement governance, sourcing councils, and category management initiatives.
• Provide executive leadership with procurement performance reporting, project updates, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.

Aftermarket & New Product Development

• Provide global purchasing leadership for the aftermarket business, ensuring competitive sourcing, supplier performance, and material availability.
• Collaborate with aftermarket leadership and direct and indirect procurement teams to improve purchasing effectiveness and support business growth.
• Lead procurement involvement in global New Product Development (NPD) programs, ensuring supplier readiness, cost targets, and program milestones are achieved.
• Identify opportunities to leverage global purchasing scale, supplier relationships, and sourcing synergies across product lines and business units.

Organizational Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing purchasing organization with a strong culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear procurement KPIs, performance expectations, and reporting processes to drive measurable business outcomes.
• Prioritize resources across competing business initiatives while addressing complex operational and commercial challenges.
• Partner with global procurement leadership on strategic initiatives, executive presentations, project management, and enterprise-wide transformation efforts.

Candidate Qualifications

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience, including at least 5 years in purchasing or strategic sourcing within a global manufacturing organization.
• At least 6 years of people leadership experience, with demonstrated success developing and managing procurement teams.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-site, multi-product manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable material cost reductions, improve supplier performance, and execute strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong experience in supplier negotiations, category management, supply chain risk mitigation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leadership and drive execution across a matrixed, multinational organization.
• Exceptional communication, analytical, commercial, and organizational leadership capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience within power generation, industrial equipment, engineered products, or similarly complex manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to global aftermarket purchasing and New Product Development procurement.
• Experience managing tariff exposure, supplier localization, and international sourcing strategies.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to connect procurement initiatives to margin improvement, working capital, and overall business performance.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a commercially minded, results-oriented procurement leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach to execution. This individual will have a demonstrated track record of delivering meaningful cost improvements, developing resilient global supply chains, and building strong supplier relationships within complex manufacturing environments.

Success in this position requires an individual who can operate effectively at both the executive and operational levels—capable of developing long-term sourcing strategies while personally driving critical negotiations, supplier escalations, and cross-functional initiatives.

The organization is seeking a collaborative, decisive leader who can challenge existing processes, strengthen organizational accountability, and translate procurement strategy into measurable financial and operational results.