Director of Supply Chain

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Supply Chain

Why Join Oilgear

At Oilgear, we design and manufacture high-performance hydraulic systems that power some of the world’s most demanding industrial applications. Our employees play a critical role in our success, and we are committed to providing a safe, collaborative, and growth-oriented environment. At Oilgear, you’ll work with advanced technology, contribute to meaningful products, and be part of a team that values quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Position Overview

The Director of Supply Chain is responsible for overseeing and optimizing all aspects of supply chain operations for The Oilgear Company, including procurement, logistics, inventory management, planning, and distribution. This senior leadership role ensures that supply chain strategies align with company objectives, drive operational excellence, minimize costs, and improve customer satisfaction. The Director leads a high-performing team and serves as a key cross-functional partner to Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Finance. This position requires up to 25% travel, with occasional international travel.

Essential Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing supply chain team of approximately 3–5 direct reports across purchasing, planning, and logistics functions
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.
• Set the highest ethical standards for self and others.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and career development; conduct performance reviews and goal-setting for direct reports.
• Build organizational capability through hiring, succession planning, and training.
• Serve as a cross-functional partner to Operations, Engineering, Sales, Finance, and Quality leadership.

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Lead sourcing and procurement strategies to reduce cost, improve quality, and ensure supply continuity.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers; negotiate contracts to reduce costs and improve quality.
• Negotiate, review, and manage Master Supply Agreements (MSAs), long-term agreements, and pricing contracts in partnership with Legal and Finance.
• Drive make-vs-buy analyses and outsourcing decisions in partnership with Operations and Engineering.
• Lead supplier consolidation, dual-sourcing, and supply base diversification initiatives to balance cost, risk, and resilience.
• Monitor supplier performance against on-time delivery, quality, and responsiveness standards; lead supplier business reviews and corrective action processes.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and sustainability requirements across the supply base.
• Develop and execute supply chain risk management strategies to mitigate supply disruptions, geographic concentration, financial instability, and capacity constraints.

Inventory & Planning

• Ensure optimal inventory levels that balance working capital needs and customer service levels.
• Lead the monthly Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process in partnership with Sales, Operations, and Finance; ensure alignment between demand forecast, supply plan, and production capacity.
• Oversee demand forecasting, inventory planning, and material requirements planning (MRP).
• Manage Excess and Obsolete (E&O) inventory exposure and drive reduction strategies.
• Establish and monitor safety stock, reorder points, and inventory policies aligned to ABC classification and lead-time variability.
• Partner with Sales on forecast accuracy improvements and with Operations on production capacity planning.
• Use data analytics to improve visibility, efficiency, and decision-making across the supply chain.

Logistics & Distribution

• Manage transportation, warehousing, and distribution strategies to ensure timely delivery of products.
• Optimize logistics networks and transportation costs across inbound and outbound freight.
• Lead carrier selection, rate negotiation, and performance management for LTL, FTL, parcel, ocean, and air freight.
• Manage 3PL and warehouse partner relationships across U.S. company locations.
• Oversee warehouse operations, including receiving, putaway, picking, packing, shipping, and cycle counting accuracy.
• Drive freight cost analysis and mode optimization to balance service levels and total landed cost.

Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and execute supply chain strategies aligned with business goals.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives across the supply chain using Lean, Six Sigma, TOC, PDCA, DMAIC, 8D, and 5-Why methodologies.
• Lead or sponsor ERP and supply chain system implementations, upgrades, and enhancement projects.
• Establish and maintain KPI dashboards and reporting cadence; present supply chain performance, risks, and initiatives at monthly business reviews and executive meetings.
• Ensure supply chain processes comply with ISO 9001 / QMS requirements.

Financial Management & Budget

• Develop, manage, and monitor the annual supply chain operating budget; report variances and corrective actions to Finance and executive leadership.
• Establish and deliver annual cost savings targets through negotiation, sourcing strategies, supplier consolidation, and process improvements.
• Manage inventory dollars on the balance sheet to support working capital objectives; partner with Finance on inventory valuation, reserves, and write-offs.
• Provide input to capital expenditure (CapEx) planning for supply chain, warehousing, and logistics-related investments.
• Partner with Finance on Purchase Price Variance (PPV) analysis, standard cost setting, and total landed cost reporting.

Global Sourcing & Trade Compliance

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies, balancing domestic and international supplier capabilities against cost, lead time, risk, and tariff exposure.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. import/export regulations, including ITAR, EAR, FAR, and country-of-origin requirements.
• Monitor and respond to tariff changes (Section 232, Section 301, antidumping/countervailing duties) and trade agreement impacts (USMCA, others).
• Oversee customs brokerage relationships, harmonized tariff classification (HTS), and duty drawback opportunities.
• Manage supplier qualification, due diligence, and audits for international sourcing partners.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and Trade Compliance on documentation, recordkeeping, and audit readiness.

New Product Introduction (NPI) Support

• Partner with Engineering and Product Management on supplier selection and sourcing strategy for new product introductions.
• Ensure supplier qualification timelines, tooling lead times, and first-article inspection processes support on-time product launches.
• Drive design-for-supply and design-for-cost input early in the product development cycle.
• Manage component obsolescence and end-of-life planning for legacy products and replacement parts.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, or related field
• 8–12+ years of experience in supply chain management with at least 5 years in a leadership role
• Experience in the manufacturing or engineering industry (hydraulics, industrial equipment, machined or engineered products, or similar) strongly preferred
• Experience managing a departmental operating budget and delivering against annual cost savings targets
• Demonstrated experience leading a Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process
• Experience leading or sponsoring ERP and supply chain system implementations or major upgrades
• Working knowledge of global sourcing, U.S. import/export compliance (ITAR, EAR, FAR), tariffs, and customs processes
• Strong understanding of ERP systems and supply chain technologies
• Experience working with ISO 9001 or QMS systems
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and critical thinking skills
• Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation abilities
• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, TOC, PDCA, DMAIC, 8D, 5-Why)

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of manufacturing experience including 5+ years of procurement management
• Experience with steel mills, steel tube/rod, and cartridge valve suppliers
• Oracle ERP experience
• Professional certification (CSCP, CPSM, CPIM, or equivalent) is a plus

What We Offer

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid holidays
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• Optional hospital, critical illness, and accident insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Safety shoe reimbursement program
• Safety glasses reimbursement program
• Tuition assistance up to $5,000 per year

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Oilgear Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.