The
North America Director of Supply Chain & Operations is responsible for leading, optimizing, and transforming end-to-end supply chain and operational activities across the United States and Canada. Operating at a Director level, this role ensures operational excellence, cost efficiency, resilience, and service performance while enabling business growth, acquisition integration, and alignment with global supply chain and operational strategies.
The role serves as a key strategic and operational partner to Commercial, Finance, Quality, R&D, Customer Care, HR, and Global Supply Chain teams. It requires strong leadership, deep technical and business expertise, and the ability to drive standardization, continuous improvement, and risk management in a complex, fast-changing North American operating environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Regional Supply Chain & Operations Leadership- Lead and oversee all supply chain and operations activities across North America, including:
- Demand and supply planning.
- Manufacturing and operations (internal and external)
- Procurement and supplier management
- Logistics, distribution, and warehousing
- Ensure execution alignment between North America operations and global supply chain and operations strategy.
- Translate enterprise objectives into regional operational priorities and execution plans.
Operational Excellence & Performance Management- Define, track, and review key performance indicators related to safety, service, cost, quality, inventory, and operational efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence programs) to improve reliability, productivity, and service levels.
- Establish strong governance, performance review cadences, and corrective action processes across sites and functions.
Cost Efficiency & Value Creation- Identify and deliver cost optimization and productivity initiatives across manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, and inventory management.
- Balance efficiency, cost control, and service excellence to support profitable growth.
- Support budget planning, forecasting, and long-term capacity and network planning across the region.
Business Partnering & Cross-Functional Collaboration- Act as a strategic business partner to Commercial, Finance, Quality, R&D, Customer Care, HR, and IT teams in North America.
- Ensure operational readiness for business growth initiatives, new product launches, and market expansions.
- Collaborate closely with Global Supply Chain, Procurement, and Digital/IT teams to deploy and sustain global initiatives at the regional level.
Transformation, Digitalization & Systems- Lead or support implementation of supply chain and operations digital solutions (ERP, planning tools, analytics, automation).
- Drive standardization and process harmonization across North America while respecting local regulatory and operational requirements.
- Promote data-driven decision-making, enhanced visibility, and end-to-end supply chain transparency.
Risk Management & Resilience- Identify and mitigate supply, operational, logistical, and geopolitical risks affecting the North America region.
- Strengthen business continuity, crisis response, and supplier resilience.
- Ensure compliance with safety, quality, regulatory, and sustainability standards.
M&A Integration Support- Play a key leadership role in post-merger integration for acquisitions in North America.
- Lead integration of supply chain and operations processes, systems, governance, and teams into the regional and global operating model.
People Leadership & Talent Development- Lead, coach, and develop high-performing regional and local supply chain and operations teams.
- Build leadership capability, succession plans, and functional depth across critical operational roles.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, safety, and collaboration.
Required Education and Experience:- Bachelor's degree in engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or related field required.
- Master's degree (MBA or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
- 12-15+ years of progressive experience in supply chain and/or operations roles, including regional or global responsibility.
- Proven leadership experience across manufacturing, planning, procurement, and logistics functions.
- Demonstrated success leading operational transformation, cost optimization, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Experience in industrial manufacturing, life sciences, chemicals, agribusiness, or similar sectors preferred.
- Significant experience working in North America; broader Americas experience is a plus.
- Fluent in English; Spanish and/or Portuguese highly desirable.
Required Skills:- Knowledge (theoretical or practical understanding of a subject)
- Deep end-to-end knowledge of supply chain and operations management in a regional, multi-site environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, demand and supply planning, procurement, and logistics.
- Working knowledge of ERP platforms and advanced supply chain planning and analytics systems.
- Understanding of regulatory, safety, quality, and sustainability requirements.
- Skills (proficiencies developed through training or experience)
- Strategic planning and operational execution
- Operational excellence and continuous improvement leadership
- Financial acumen and cost management
- Performance management and KPI governance
- Change management and transformation leadership
- Cross-functional and cross-cultural collaboration
- Stakeholder influence and executive communication
- Abilities (qualities of being able to do something)
- Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and accountability in a complex environment.
- Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership.
- Ability to lead through ambiguity, change, and integration.
- Ability to make sound decisions under pressure using data, experience, and judgment.
- Ability to build resilient, adaptable supply chains that support growth and customer service.
