Senior Director, Operations Cost Excellence

When Alfred Fain founded a small Rhode Island tire store in 1924, at the time no one could have predicted how Teknor Apex would become an international custom compounder sought out by companies around the world. After a nearly hundred-year journey that’s carried us through acquisitions and expansion, we now have nine U.S. locations, as well as operations in Belgium, Singapore, Germany, and China.

Throughout this global expansion Teknor has remained a privately held company, and today Fain’s grandson sits at the helm, maintaining the family’s tradition of fostering deep employee and customer relationships. These relationships are what allow us—together—to deliver customized compound solutions and help our customer’s create better products.

“Manufacturing is a team sport, and we work together to achieve our goals.” ~Jon Fain

The Senior Director, Operations Cost Excellence will lead global Indirect Procurement and operation cost excellence initiatives across the Operations Group to advance Teknor Apex’s growth strategy and multi-year impact framing goals.

Partnering with Manufacturing Group, Finance, EHS, and Engineering, this role will identify, prioritize, and drive multi-year cost reduction initiatives across operations targeting annualized $5-10m operating cost reduction contributing directly to EBITDA improvement. While Operations Group leaders manage daily execution, this position governs and accelerates value creation through indirect cost reduction, services sourcing strategy, end-to-end process optimization, automation (including robotic process automation and agentic AI), and “plan-to-deliver” cost efficiency.

This role will both lead (own) and support (enable) core functional initiatives, providing deep expertise in supply chain management, problem-solving, and portfolio execution. This role serves as a strategic catalyst for improving operating leverage, enabling reinvestment in growth and innovation through disciplined cost and productivity initiatives.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the Global Operations Group Leadership Team, influencing cost strategy, direction, and decision-making.
• Lead global indirect procurement (U.S., Europe, and Asia), including sourcing strategy (make/buy), supplier management, category optimization, and standardization.
• Manage and develop a high-performing Indirect Procurement team with direct reports in North America and matrixed teams in Europe and Asia.
• Develop future supply chain operations and procurement cost leaders through coaching and capability-building programs.
• Create repeatable frameworks for cost and value analysis that scale across geographies and functions.
• Provide strategic leadership for global operations cost initiatives.
• Identify, prioritize, manage, and report on a portfolio of cost initiatives aligned with strategic and operational goals.
• In partnership with Operations Finance, establish governance tools and dashboards to track progress, accountability, and value delivery.
• Establish and own cost governance processes and dashboards, ensuring transparent, data-driven decision-making across global operations
• Drive organization-wide adoption of cost transparency and efficiency best practices.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and supplier governance standards.
• Partner with business units and functional leaders to identify supplier-driven cost and value opportunities.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration and operational excellence in cost initiatives.
• Align and standardize cost efforts across regions and functions.
• Develop and lead regular cross-functional reviews and steering meetings to drive accountability and results.
• Support budgeting, planning, and performance reporting through cost visibility and tracking tools.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational discipline.
  
  

Role Requirements

• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional cost optimization initiatives in a global supply chain or manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage senior leadership.
• Demonstrated financial and operational acumen with a track record in cost optimization.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to derive actionable insights from large data sets.
• Global mindset with the ability to work effectively across regions, functions, and cultures.
• Ability to travel up to one week every eight weeks, including internationally.
  
  

Education And/or Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 12–15 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, or Manufacturing leadership.
• Proven record of delivering measurable cost savings and productivity improvements.
• Experience managing cost optimization and transformation programs.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 15lbs.
• Clear verbal communication via phone and in person.
  
  

This description is a summary of principal responsibilities and is not intended to include all duties that may be assigned.

Teknor Apex is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status under state or federal laws. Must be 18 years of age or older to work at Teknor Apex.