Director, Global Materials & Operations

Digilock is a global leader in electromechanical locking solutions for lockers, cabinets, and access control across healthcare, education, hospitality, corporate, and retail environments — with manufacturing in the US, China, and Türkiye.

The Director, Global Materials & Operations is a senior leadership role with end-to-end accountability for global material flow: from sourcing electromechanical components through production, warehousing, and delivery worldwide. Reporting to the EVP, this role has direct authority over Supply Chain, Purchasing, Production Planning, Warehousing, and Shipping & Logistics across Digilock’s domestic and international operations (China, Türkiye, Korea, Netherlands, and Australia). Performance is measured by on-time delivery, inventory accuracy, cost efficiency, and operational readiness. Global travel required (4–6 trips/year).

Key Responsibilities

1. Supply Chain & Demand Planning

• Own global demand and supply planning to ensure uninterrupted material availability across all facilities.
• Lead the SIOP process to improve forecast accuracy, reduce excess inventory, and align procurement, production, and sales.
• Develop accurate demand signals for upstream suppliers and Digilock’s China and Türkiye operations; minimize expediting.
• Establish and hold the organization accountable to KPIs: forecast accuracy, inventory turns, supplier on-time delivery.

2. Warehouse & Inventory Management

• Accountable for all Houston warehouse operations: receiving, storage, cycle counting, order fulfillment, and outbound shipping.
• Maintain inventory accuracy standards; investigate discrepancies through root cause analysis and enforce measurable targets.
• Own production scheduling, raw material procurement, and component storage — balancing requirements against obsolescence and carrying cost.
• Drive continuous improvement in warehouse productivity, inventory turns, pick/pack accuracy, and space utilization.
• Establish and enforce inventory governance policies across all Digilock locations globally.

3. Logistics, Shipping & Distribution

• Accountable for domestic and international shipping — on time and at cost — across all markets and sales channels.
• Own accuracy of all shipping documentation: BOLs, commercial invoices, packing lists, export declarations, and carrier compliance.
• Manage carrier and customs broker network (freight forwarders, 3PLs) for seamless cross-border movement of goods and components.
• Ensure full compliance with import/export regulations, trade controls, HTS classification, and country-specific documentation standards.

4. ERP & Operational Excellence

• Serve as business owner for all Syspro ERP processes spanning inventory, purchasing, production scheduling, warehousing, and logistics.
• Hold accountability for data accuracy across all ERP transactions; build controls that prevent poor data at the source.
• Define and actively manage core operational KPIs (inventory accuracy, OTIF, order fill rate, warehouse productivity); report to EVP regularly.
• Lead ERP and process standardization across global Digilock facilities; partner with IT on automation initiatives.

5. People Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Directly lead Supply Chain, Purchasing, Production Planning, Warehousing, and Shipping & Logistics teams with clear accountability at every level.
• Set unambiguous performance expectations; conduct reviews and take decisive action where gaps exist.
• Build a culture of accountability: missed commitments are examined, root causes identified, corrective actions owned.
• Translate operational data into clear, actionable insights for procurement, production, finance, and commercial leadership.
• Present executive-level operational summaries and strategic recommendations to the EVP and leadership team on a defined cadence.

6. Global Operations & Travel

• Conduct 4–6 on-site visits per year to Digilock operations in China, Türkiye, Korea, Netherlands, and Australia; visits must deliver measurable improvements.
• Hold global sites accountable to corporate standards for inventory, warehouse practices, and logistics; document and close gaps.
• Lead operational ramp-up of the Houston manufacturing facility: material flow processes, inventory systems, staffing plans, and readiness criteria.
• Identify and execute supply chain risk mitigation strategies across the global network.

Functions Overseen

• Supply Chain - Demand planning, SIOP, inventory strategy, supplier coordination
• Purchasing - Procurement of raw materials, components, and indirect goods globally
• Production Planning - Production scheduling, capacity planning, MRP execution (Syspro)
• Warehousing - Receiving, storage, inventory control, cycle counting, fulfillment
• Shipping & Logistics - Domestic and international freight, trade compliance, carrier management

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Engineering, or related field (required).
• MBA or advanced degree preferred. APICS CPIM or CSCP strongly preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years in supply chain, operations, or materials management; 5+ years in a senior leadership role with P&L or budget accountability.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site global supply chain operations with measurable improvement in OTD, inventory accuracy, and cost.
• Experience in electromechanical, electronic hardware, or precision-manufactured products preferred; physical security or IoT hardware a plus.
• Hands-on ERP experience in a manufacturing environment; Syspro a significant advantage.
• Strong background in warehouse management, logistics, and international trade compliance (import/export, customs, INCOTERMS, HTS).
• Direct experience managing operations in Asia, particularly China; Türkiye or EMEA experience a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Decisive operational leader: equally effective on the warehouse floor and in the boardroom; sets direction and holds the organization accountable.
• Strong analytical skills with ERP, Excel/BI, and KPI-driven management; uses data to surface problems before they escalate.
• Clear, direct communicator who translates complex supply chain dynamics into executive-level insights without losing accuracy.
• Deep expertise in demand planning, MRP/MPS, inventory management, and S&OP/SIOP in multi-site manufacturing environments.
• Culturally fluent across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East; able to build trust-based relationships across diverse international teams.
• Willing and able to travel internationally 4–6 times per year.

Working Conditions

• Primary location: Digilock HQ and manufacturing facility, Houston, TX. Regular physical presence on the warehouse and production floor required.
• Must be capable of working in a warehouse/light manufacturing environment, including extended standing, walking, and occasional lifting.
• International travel: 4–6 trips/year to China, Türkiye, Korea, Netherlands, and Australia.
• Flexibility in working hours required to support global operations across international time zones.

Who We Are:

At Digilock®, we’re at the forefront of innovation, design, and manufacturing in personal security solutions. By using best-in-class materials and providing exceptional service, we ensure our customers and their clients have peace of mind, knowing their most important items are secure.

For over 40 years, we’ve committed to merging technological innovation with unparalleled customer service, offering the finest secure personal storage solutions available. As a growing company, we understand that change is constant, and we embrace it with enthusiasm. This passion for innovation drives us and propels our company forward.

Benefits:

We provide a competitive salary and benefits package. Highlights of our current benefits package include Medical, Dental/Vision, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, 401K Match up to 4%, AFLAC, Wellness Program Reimbursement, PTO, and a generous holiday schedule with pay. We provide food and snacks throughout the week in our fully stocked kitchens/breakrooms and have company outings.