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knowles

Global Procurement Director

itasca, IL

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Job description

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

The Global Procurement Director is responsible for the development and execution of the Company’s global direct material sourcing strategy in support of multiple manufacturing facilities across North America, Mexico, and Asia. This executive leadership role oversees a global procurement organization comprised of Category Managers responsible for strategic sourcing and a purchasing organization responsible for operational purchasing execution at manufacturing sites.

The Global Procurement Director is accountable for ensuring continuity of supply, optimizing total cost of ownership, enhancing supplier performance, managing contractual relationships, and cultivating long-term strategic supplier partnerships. In close collaboration with Operations, Supply Chain Planning, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Research & Development, and Product Management, this leader will establish and maintain a resilient and scalable supply base that supports business growth, new product introductions, operational excellence, and long-term strategic objectives.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Procurement Leadership - Provide strategic leadership and direction for a global procurement organization consisting of:

Global Category Managers are responsible for the strategic sourcing of direct materials.

Purchasing professionals supporting manufacturing operations across global production facilities.

Establish procurement objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and talent development plans aligned with business priorities.

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and high performance throughout the procurement organization.

Strategic Category Management - Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for key direct material categories, including:

Category strategy development and execution

Global supplier identification, evaluation, and selection

Supply risk assessment and mitigation

Total cost optimization

Market and technology intelligence

Long-term supplier development and roadmap planning

Supplier Relationship Management

Develop and maintain strategic relationships with key global suppliers.

Lead executive-level supplier business reviews and governance processes.

Promote supplier innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Establish strategic partnerships that support future capacity expansion, technology advancement, and business growth objectives.

Commercial Negotiation - Lead complex commercial negotiations, including:

Long-term supply agreements

Pricing strategies and cost-reduction initiatives

Contract terms and conditions

Capacity reservation and allocation agreements

Payment terms and working capital initiatives

Risk-sharing arrangements

Achieve measurable year-over-year cost improvements while safeguarding quality, service, and continuity of supply.

Supply Continuity and Risk Management

Ensure uninterrupted supply of critical materials required to support global manufacturing operations.

Develop and maintain business continuity and contingency plans for strategic suppliers.

Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including sole-source dependencies, geopolitical exposure, logistics disruptions, and raw material constraints.

Lead supplier capacity planning initiatives to support business growth and new product introductions.

Supplier Performance Management - Develop and maintain a comprehensive supplier performance management framework, including:

On-time delivery performance

Quality performance (PPM)

Responsiveness and service levels

Cost competitiveness

Capacity and operational performance

Sustainability and compliance metrics

Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and oversee corrective and preventive action processes.

Financial and Operational Performance - Drive procurement performance through:

Cost savings and productivity improvements

Working capital optimization

Inventory reduction initiatives

Supplier lead-time reduction

Contract compliance and governance

Procurement KPI measurement and reporting

POSITION/TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field is required.

MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.

Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management within a manufacturing environment.

Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing global procurement and/or category management organizations.

Demonstrated expertise in managing direct material categories within industrial or manufacturing sectors.

Proven success negotiating and managing complex global supply agreements.

Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities across diverse geographic regions.

Strong track record of developing and implementing global sourcing and category management strategies.

Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 10–15% as business needs require.

On-site presence required.

Core Competencies

Global Category Management

Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Relationship Management

Contract Negotiation

Cost Management

Supply Risk Management

Capacity Planning

Supplier Performance Management

Leadership and Talent Development

Executive Communication

Financial Acumen

Data-Driven Decision Making

Cross-Functional Leadership

Continuous Improvement

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: VP, Global Supply Chain

EEO-M/F/D/V

#Itasca

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Worksite address

itasca, IL, 60143, US

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