Director of Purchasing

Director of Purchasing

Role Summary

Bolingbrook, IL

150-200K (Some Flex) + 25% bonus

Check all associated application documentation thoroughly before clicking on the apply button at the bottom of this description.

They are looking for a Purchasing Director who has overseen at least $500 million in yearly direct procurement/purchasing with distribution center experience.

The Director of Purchasing leads the organization's purchasing strategy, supplier partnerships, inventory planning, and procurement operations. This role is responsible for ensuring product availability, cost optimization, inventory efficiency, and operational scalability. The position partners closely with Finance, Operations, Distribution, Merchandising, and IT to drive purchasing performance, manage supplier risk, improve forecasting, and support business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute purchasing strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Lead and support the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
• Monitor and report on supplier performance, costs, inventory health, and service levels.
• Provide insights on market trends, supply risks, and purchasing opportunities.

Supplier & Cost Management

• Lead supplier negotiations, relationship management, and performance reviews.
• Oversee landed-cost management, purchasing controls, and invoice accuracy.
• Mitigate supply chain risks and develop contingency plans.
• Ensure efficient inbound product flow from suppliers.

Operations & Systems

• Manage purchasing processes, inventory controls, and ERP system accuracy.
• Establish policies, approval workflows, and audit-ready purchasing procedures.
• Drive process improvement, automation, and data quality initiatives.
• Partner with IT to enhance purchasing systems and integrations.
• Leverage machine learning and AI technologies to improve forecasting and purchasing effectiveness.

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor the purchasing team.
• Establish organizational structure, performance expectations, and succession plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer focus.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Operations, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Significant leadership experience in purchasing, procurement, supply chain, or related functions.
• Proven success in supplier negotiations, inventory management, cost control, and process improvement.
• Strong financial and analytical skills, including inventory economics and performance metrics.
• Experience with ERP systems, purchasing data analysis, and workflow management.
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and make sound business decisions.

Preferred

• Master's degree or relevant supply chain/procurement certification.
• Experience in distribution, wholesale, consumer products, apparel, or other high-volume environments.
• Experience leading technology, automation, ERP, or data governance initiatives.
• Multi-site or geographically diverse supplier network experience.
• Experience with AI-driven forecasting and advanced analytics.

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional office environment and may be on-site, hybrid, or remote based on business needs. xhqgsiq Travel may be required periodically to support supplier relationships and business operations.