Director of Purchasing & MRO

Director of Purchasing & MRO leads the procurement of goods and services, with a specialized focus on manufacturing materials and Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) items such as tools, abrasives, chemicals, valves, cutting tools, electrical products, and PPE. This role is strategic, requiring both broad procurement expertise and technical knowledge of fiberglass composites, metal fabrication and MRO supply chains.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies for product materials and MRO products and services, ensuring cost-effectiveness, quality, and availability in support of various manufacturing facilities located throughout the Midwest.
• Negotiate contracts with suppliers, securing the best terms, pricing, and service levels.
• Manage supplier relationships — vetting, selecting, and overseeing performance to meet service and quality requirements.
• Conduct market research to identify new suppliers, assess competitive pricing, and forecast demand.
• Oversee procurement budgets and ensure compliance with regulatory and internal procurement policies.
• Lead and develop a procurement team, providing guidance, training, and performance management. The procurement team will be located in the various manufacturing facilities.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, and other departments to understand and meet their MRO needs.
• Implement and monitor procurement systems and tools to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance supply chain resilience.
• Ensure compliance with procurement laws, regulations, and internal control.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Public Administration, or related field; preferred.
• Experience: 7 years in strategic purchasing, with 5 years in manufacturing and MRO product sourcing and industrial distribution.
• Technical expertise: Strong knowledge of fiberglass composite and metal fabrication processes and MRO product categories, sourcing channels, and industrial supply markets.
• Negotiation & communication skills: Excellent verbal and written communication, ability to negotiate complex contracts.
• Analytical & organizational skills: Ability to manage multiple priorities, analyze spend data, and drive process improvements.

Travel Requirements

This position requires up to 25% travel. Travel will be more frequent during the initial onboarding and training period to support relationship building, training, and project implementation. After this initial ramp-up, travel is expected to stabilize at approximately 25% based on business needs.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard for any applicable state or federal protected class.