Director of Supply Chain

The Director of Supply Chain will own end-to-end supply chain execution for two manufacturing locations in the metro New York area and Chicago, IL. This is a hands-on, builder role designed for a supply chain leader who thrives in smaller, high-growth environments, someone who can both do the work and teach the work while putting scalable processes in place.

The role will be responsible for forecasting, demand planning, inventory control, warehouse optimization, and S&OP execution, with a strong emphasis on improving forecast accuracy, translating data into action, and driving cross-functional alignment with Operations and Sales. While the role does not manage a large downstream team, it carries significant influence across the organization and plays a critical role in the company’s continued rapid growth.

This is an opportunity to build and own the supply chain function during a pivotal growth phase—establishing the processes, credibility, and structure that will support long-term success. It offers meaningful visibility, influence, and the chance to shape how supply chain is executed across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain Leadership & Execution

• Own and execute end-to-end supply chain operations across two manufacturing sites, including forecasting, demand planning, inventory management, and warehouse optimization
• Act as a hands-on leader, directly managing processes while developing capabilities within the organization
• Serve as a key partner to the VP of Supply Chain, focusing specifically on supply chain execution while procurement is led separately

Forecasting, Planning & S&OP

• Build and refine forecasting and demand planning processes to improve forecast accuracy and responsiveness
• Establish and lead S&OP rhythms, integrating Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain into a single aligned plan
• Translate data into actionable insights—proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and mitigation strategies rather than simply reporting numbers
• Drive accountability and action with Sales and Operations when forecasts change or assumptions break

Inventory Management & Optimization

• Take ownership of inventory strategy, including proactive management of slow-moving and obsolete inventory
• Develop processes to prevent inventory from aging unnecessarily, including write-off strategies and corrective action plans
• Balance service levels with working capital efficiency during a period of rapid growth
• Optimize warehouse layout, utilization, and labor efficiency across both sites

Operations Partnership & Influence

• Build credibility and influence with site Operations leaders
• Present data-driven recommendations clearly and confidently, owning the plan and the outcomes
• Align supply plans with production realities, labor constraints, and capacity utilization
• Support the transition from heavy temporary labor reliance toward more structured planning and utilization

Process Development & Scalability

• Design and implement scalable supply chain processes appropriate for a company growing rapidly but operating with manageable SKU complexity
• Establish core supply chain KPIs and reporting dashboards tied to execution and decision-making
• Lay the groundwork for future growth as volumes increase and complexity expands

Experience & Background

• 8–15 years of progressive supply chain experience within a manufacturing environment
• Experience in manufacturing is needed
• Proven success in small-to-mid-size or high-growth organizations where leaders must be hands-on
• Deep working knowledge of:
• Forecasting & demand planning
• Inventory control & warehouse operations
• S&OP processes and metrics
• Manufacturing-aligned supply chain execution

Leadership Style

• Practical, action-oriented, and comfortable rolling up sleeves
• Able to teach, mentor, and build processes without over-engineering

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong data and systems fluency; able to synthesize information and drive decisions
• Experience building metrics and dashboards that lead to action
• ERP/MRP experience required; advanced planning tools a plus