Director, Supply Chain Planning & Optimization

Job Description:

The Director, Supply Chain leads the strategic planning and execution of supply chain operations to ensure efficient, cost-effective, and timely delivery of goods and services. This role supports organizational goals by optimizing sourcing, logistics, inventory management, and supplier relationships. The position plays a critical role in aligning supply chain strategies with business objectives to drive operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Primary Duties

Primary duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Develops and implements supply chain strategies that support business growth, cost reduction, and service level improvements.
• Oversees procurement, logistics, inventory control, and distribution functions to ensure seamless operations.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to forecast demand, manage supply planning, and mitigate risks.
• Establishes performance metrics and monitors supply chain effectiveness to identify areas for improvement.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with suppliers and partners to ensure quality and reliability.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies across all supply chain activities.
• Leads initiatives to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact within the supply chain.
• Manages budgets and resource allocation to meet operational and financial targets.
• Hires, trains, coaches, counsels, and evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Education and Experience Requirements:
• Requires a bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business administration, or a related discipline; 7+ years of experience in supply chain operations, including leadership roles; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background. Master's degree or professional certification (e.g., CSCP, CPSM) preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Deep understanding of supply chain principles, logistics, and procurement.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinking with a focus on continuous improvement.

Essential Mental and Physical Functions:
• Ability to travel occasionally to supplier or distribution sites.
• Extended periods of sitting and working at a desk.
• Ability to analyze complex data and make strategic decisions.
• Occasional lifting of materials or equipment up to 25 lbs.

Work Environment:
• Perform all tasks on-site or in a hybrid office setting.
• Operate in a professional office environment with occasional visits to warehouses or supplier facilities.
• Compliance with all applicable safety policies to maintain a safe working environment.
• Exposure to moderate noise levels and standard office equipment.
• This role is classified as a Safety Sensitive Position, requiring heightened awareness and adherence to all safety protocols to prevent accidents and ensure a secure work environment.

The Director, Supply Chain Planning & Optimization is responsible for leading the organization's supply chain planning, performance management, analytics, project management, and continuous improvement functions. This role provides strategic direction and governance for planning processes, performance frameworks, inventory optimization, operational excellence initiatives, and supply chain capabilities that support business growth, customer service objectives, and operational efficiency.

The Director, Supply Chain Planning & Optimization serves as the functional leader for supply chain planning and optimization, overseeing a team of managers and professionals responsible for material planning, supply chain performance, analytics, project execution, and continuous improvement. This role partners closely with Operations, Procurement, Manufacturing, Finance, Sales, Engineering, and Information Technology leadership to develop scalable processes, improve organizational effectiveness, and drive measurable improvements in service, inventory performance, productivity, and working capital.

Success in this role is defined by the ability to align strategy with execution, establish sustainable operating processes, improve end-to-end supply chain performance, and build organizational capabilities that support long-term growth and continuous improvement.

Primary Duties:

Supply Chain Planning & Optimization

• Lead the development and execution of enterprise supply chain planning and optimization strategies that support customer service, operational efficiency, and business growth.
• Provide leadership and governance for material planning, inventory planning, constrained supply management, and related planning processes.
• Serve as the primary supply chain planning interface to the SIOP process, translating demand, capacity, inventory, and supply inputs into executable plans; identify constraints, scenarios, risks, and required decisions for cross-functional alignment and executive review.
• Establish and lead a recurring Clear-To-Build process that validates material availability against the production schedule, identifies shortages and constraints, assigns owners and recovery actions, and drives timely escalation to protect schedule attainment and customer commitments.
• Establish planning standards, policies, and operating procedures that improve material availability, inventory effectiveness, and execution consistency.
• Partner with manufacturing and supply chain leaders to balance service, inventory, capacity, and operational performance objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement of planning processes through standardization, data analysis, and process optimization.

Supply Chain Performance Management

• Own supply chain performance frameworks, KPI governance, scorecards, reporting standards, and performance review processes.
• Establish metrics and management routines that provide visibility into service levels, inventory performance, planning effectiveness, material availability, and operational efficiency.
• Lead root cause analysis efforts and corrective action planning for systemic performance issues.
• Develop benchmarking and maturity assessment practices to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Provide regular performance insights and recommendations to supply chain and executive leadership.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead the Supply Chain Continuous Improvement function and establish a culture focused on operational excellence and disciplined execution.
• Sponsor and prioritize improvement initiatives focused on process efficiency, inventory performance, service improvements, waste elimination, and cost optimization.
• Support implementation of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies throughout the supply chain organization.
• Partner with operations and business leaders to identify opportunities for process simplification, standardization, and capability development.
• Ensure continuous improvement initiatives deliver measurable and sustainable business results.

Analytics, Projects & Technology Enablement

• Provide leadership for supply chain analytics, reporting, project management, and process improvement initiatives.
• Drive the development and use of dashboards, reporting tools, predictive analytics, and decision-support capabilities.
• Support implementation and optimization of ERP, planning, and supply chain technology solutions.
• Lead cross-functional supply chain projects that improve organizational effectiveness and business performance.
• Utilize data and emerging technologies to improve decision quality, productivity, and supply chain visibility.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead and develop managers, analysts, planners, project leaders, and continuous improvement professionals.
• Establish goals, priorities, performance expectations, and development plans across the organization.
• Build organizational capabilities through coaching, succession planning, talent development, and knowledge sharing.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Influence stakeholders across multiple functions and business units to achieve strategic objectives.

Decision Authority

• Establish supply chain planning standards, governance processes, methodologies, and performance management practices.
• Prioritize supply chain optimization initiatives, projects, and improvement investments.
• Approve planning and performance management frameworks utilized across the organization.
• Recommend organizational, process, technology, and capability improvements to senior leadership.
• Escalate operational risks, performance gaps, and resource constraints with recommended corrective actions.

Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree (MBA or related discipline) preferred.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent professional certification preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, operations, manufacturing, planning, logistics, procurement, or related disciplines.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing managers, professional staff, or multi-functional teams.
• Demonstrated success leading planning, operational excellence, performance management, or supply chain transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing enterprise processes, KPIs, governance frameworks, and operating standards.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives within complex manufacturing organizations.
• Proven track record delivering measurable improvements in service, inventory performance, operational efficiency, productivity, and working capital.
• Experience implementing and utilizing ERP systems, planning tools, analytics platforms, and business intelligence solutions.
• Manufacturing industry experience required.

Knowledge

• End-to-end supply chain planning and execution processes
• Material planning and inventory optimization
• SIOP / Integrated Business Planning concepts
• Manufacturing operations and supply chain performance metrics
• Continuous improvement, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies
• Data analytics, reporting, and performance management
• ERP systems and supply chain technologies
• Change management and organizational effectiveness

Skills & Abilities

• Strategic thinking and business acumen
• Leadership of managers and professional teams
• Executive communication and presentation skills
• Cross-functional influence and stakeholder management
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Program and project leadership
• Organizational change leadership
• Talent development and coaching
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with operational execution
• Ability to drive measurable business results through both direct leadership and organizational influence

Essential Mental and Physical Functions:

Essential functions include:
• Ability to sit for extended periods and use computer systems regularly.
• Visual and auditory acuity for data review and communication.
• Agility to adjust quickly to shifting priorities and production demands.
• Accountability for material readiness and delivery performance.
• Ability to build effective relationships across internal and external teams.
• Operates effectively in high-pressure environments with a solutions-oriented mindset.

Work Environment:

The work is primarily performed in a climate-controlled office environment, with occasional visits to manufacturing plants and warehouses where there may be exposure to varying climate conditions, dust, chemical fumes, noise, and forklift traffic. Employees are expected to comply with all applicable safety policies to maintain a safe working environment and use personal protective equipment (PPE) as required. This role is not classified as a Safety Sensitive Position.

Disclaimer:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and act