Director, Strategic Sourcing

Director - Global Aluminum Sourcing Position Summary Reporting directly to the Vice President of Global Supply Chain and SIOP, the Director of Global Aluminum Sourcing leads the global sourcing strategy, supplier network development, strategic supplier and commercial management, and category performance for aluminum and related engineered components across CST's global manufacturing footprint. The role serves as the global category leader for assigned commodities and ensures global aluminum cost competitiveness, supply continuity, supplier scalability, lead‑time reduction, risk mitigation, and long‑term sourcing strategy. The director will support CST's expansion from its current global manufacturing network to eight manufacturing facilities in 2027 and provide sourcing leadership for future organic growth and acquisition integration. The director partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, SIOP, Logistics, and Executive Leadership to align sourcing strategies with business objectives and customer commitments. Key Responsibilities Global Category Leadership Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for aluminum extrusions, aluminum sheet, aluminum coil, fabricated components, and future assigned commodities. Establish multi‑year category roadmaps aligned with CST growth objectives. Monitor commodity markets, supplier trends, geopolitical risks, and supply chain disruptions. Develop category risk mitigation plans and supply continuity strategies. Lead supplier rationalization and supplier segmentation initiatives. Supplier Development & Global Sourcing Identify, qualify, and develop best landed‑cost global suppliers. Expand supplier networks throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Lead supplier audits, assessments, and qualification activities. Build strategic supplier partnerships supporting long‑term growth. Develop multi‑sourcing strategies to reduce risk and improve resiliency. Support Vietnam sourcing expansion and APAC supplier development. Commercial & Contract Leadership Lead RFQ processes and sourcing events. Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing structures, rebates, and long‑term contracts. Drive annual cost reduction initiatives. Conduct total cost of ownership analyses. Develop should‑cost models and market benchmarks. Support budgeting and forecasting activities related to assigned categories. Establish a supplier scalability assessment process. Evaluate supplier capacity, expansion capability, labor availability, and investment plans. Assess suppliers' ability to support CST's growth objectives. Identify future capacity constraints and develop mitigation plans. Lead Time Reduction & Supply Chain Optimization Conduct systematic reviews of long lead‑time materials. Partner with Engineering to evaluate alternative specifications and sourcing opportunities. Partner with Operations and Planning to identify internal process delays. Lead initiatives to reduce supplier and internal lead times. Improve responsiveness and overall supply chain agility. Cross‑Functional Leadership Serve as a strategic business partner to Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, Project Management, Logistics, and SIOP. Support new product introductions and engineering change initiatives. Participate in executive reviews, sourcing councils, and business planning activities. Build alignment across functions regarding sourcing strategies and supplier decisions. Leadership Expectations Operate as a strategic business leader rather than solely a procurement professional. Demonstrate strong commercial acumen and understanding of business impacts associated with sourcing decisions. Establish credibility and influence across Engineering, Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, and Executive Leadership. Create accountability, structure, urgency, and execution discipline, including close partnership with U.S. Purchasing leadership to hand off Commodity Strategy to ensure successful execution. Develop sourcing talent and future category leadership capabilities. Lead through influence, collaboration, and data‑driven decision making. Challenge existing assumptions and drive continuous improvement. Direct Reports Global Aluminum Sourcing Manager (based in Vietnam) Future APAC Sourcing Resources Key Performance Indicators Annual cost savings and cost avoidance. Supplier on‑time delivery performance. Strategic supplier development milestones. Supplier scalability assessment completion. Supply quality, continuity, and risk mitigation effectiveness. Successful support of Vietnam expansion initiatives. Support of acquisition integration and global growth objectives. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Operations, Finance, or related field. 10+ years of progressive sourcing, procurement, supply chain, operations, or manufacturing leadership experience. Experience sourcing aluminum products, hardware, fasteners, fabricated components, or engineered products. International sourcing experience. APAC and Vietnam sourcing experience. Supplier development and supplier audit experience. Advanced skills in Excel (pivot tables, V‑Lookups, data extraction and analysis), ERP functionality, and business influence and presentation to team/peers/leadership. Experience supporting multi‑site manufacturing operations. Experience developing suppliers and managing supplier performance, including negotiating strategic supplier agreements. Experience leading teams and cross‑functional initiatives. Preferred Qualifications Experience within water/wastewater, oil & gas, industrial structures, heavy fabrication, storage tanks, piping systems, aluminum structures, or related industries. Project management or operations experience. Experience supporting rapid‑growth organizations. Experience supporting M&A activities. This role is ideally based at our corporate headquarters in Kansas City, MO, or our fabrication facility in Conroe, TX and will support our global strategy. The candidate may also be based near any major U.S. airport to support travel to our U.S. manufacturing locations. Open to select candidates in Europe or SE Asia. #J-18808-Ljbffr