We are seeking an experienced Director of Procurement Operations to join our team in Byhalia, MS. This role will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic sourcing and procurement initiatives that prioritize quality, cost efficiency, and delivery performance. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in procurement within a manufacturing environment and a proven track record in building high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of purchasing professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance.
• Build and maintain procurement KPI dashboards to monitor business process optimization and vendor order compliance.
• Oversee and analyze daily, weekly, and monthly procurement metrics to establish effective performance measures.
• Provide on-the-job training to ensure team members possess the necessary skills and knowledge to perform procurement tasks effectively.
• Ensure compliance with procurement processes, obtaining required approvals prior to purchase order releases.
• Support vendor engagement and negotiation activities; manage supplier performance and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams for alignment on procurement strategies, issue resolution, and process improvements.
• Monitor supplier deliveries and implement corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.
• Ensure timely vendor escalation and order processing to avoid business disruptions.
• Develop an understanding of the supply base to manage commercial matters effectively.
• Optimize processes to resolve planning, scheduling, and materials issues, approving purchase orders per delegated authority.
• Contribute to material cost reduction initiatives, focusing on cost containment and cost avoidance to support regional savings targets.
• Evaluate supplier performance, resolve grievances, and manage claims against suppliers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• APICS CPIM, CSCP certification or ISM CPM, CPSM certification preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of SAP and procurement operations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong understanding of supplier contract negotiations.
• Proven experience in people management and team development.
• Ability to solve complex business issues related to Supply Chain and Procurement Operations.
• 10-15 years of end-to-end purchasing/procurement experience in a manufacturing facility.
• Thorough understanding of contractual agreements and the ability to interpret complex SOW documents, including drawings and specifications.