Director of Purchasing

The Director of Purchasing is responsible for overseeing all aspects of purchasing and negotiating contracts on behalf of the business. This individual will be responsible for managing supplier relationships, sourcing raw materials (including metals, MRO and machine components), negotiating contracts, and ensuring supplier performance for on-time delivery, and quality. This role is also responsible for driving annual cost-out in manufacturing operations through economies of scale.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in precision machining procurement , excellent negotiation skills, and a keen understanding of the unique supply chain challenges in a just-in-time, high-volume, tight-tolerance production setting.

What you will do :

• Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management :
• Identify, evaluate, and manage vendors for raw materials (e.g., brass, steel, aluminum bar stock, forged casting), tooling, and MRO supplies.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage strategic partners for outsourcing finished parts
• Develop strong supplier partnerships to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and on-time delivery.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts to maximize value while mitigating risk.
• Purchasing Operations :
• Lead the purchasing function and oversee daily procurement operations.
• Maintain accurate purchase orders and ensure timely delivery of materials to avoid production delays.
• Develop and enforce purchasing policies and procedures to ensure compliance and efficiency.
• Inventory & Cost Control :
• Monitor inventory levels of raw materials and finished goods; implement re-order strategies to support lean manufacturing.
• Collaborate with Production Planning and Inventory Control teams to balance stock levels and minimize carrying costs.
• Track and report on key purchasing KPIs, including cost savings, lead times, and vendor performance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration :
• Work closely with Engineering, Quality, and Production to ensure raw materials meet technical specifications.
• Coordinate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and cost control initiatives.
• Support new product development through sourcing and cost estimation for prototype and production runs.

What you bring :