Director of Supply Chain in Vernon Hills, Illinois at Fabian Couture Group LLC

Fabain Couture Group is looking for a Director of Supply Chain responsible for leading the company's end-to-end supply chain, including demand planning, sourcing strategy, supplier selection and development, negotiations, value engineering, purchasing operations, logistics, cost management, and supply continuity. This role owns the supply base and ensures that sourcing and purchasing decisions are aligned with demand plans, product requirements, quality standards, and overall business objectives.

Working closely with Sales, Product Development, Planning, Logistics, Warehouse Operations, Quality, and Finance, this individual will convert business requirements into sourcing strategies, supplier agreements, and executable purchasing and logistics plans. This is a leadership role that combines strategic category ownership with direct oversight of day-to-day supply chain execution.

The successful candidate will deliver measurable cost savings and favorable commercial terms while protecting product availability and service levels, proactively manage supplier and supply chain risk, and build a disciplined, data-driven supply chain organization. We are looking for a value-oriented leader with a get-it-done mindset: someone who focuses on total value rather than lowest price, takes ownership, and delivers results.

Reporting Structure

Reports to Vice President of Operations.

Leads the supply chain team, with responsibility for hiring, development, and performance management.

Partners closely with Planning, Sales, Product Development, Production, Quality, Logistics, and Finance.

Key Responsibilities

· Sourcing Strategy & Category Management

· Own and manage the company's sourcing strategy, developing category plans by product, style, material, and supplier.

· Analyze spend, cost drivers, market conditions, and total landed cost to identify savings and margin improvement opportunities.

· Lead supplier identification, qualification, and onboarding for domestic and overseas factories, including dual-sourcing of critical items.

· Lead supplier and logistics negotiations, including pricing, freight rates, payment terms, lead times, minimum order quantities, tooling, and supply agreements.

· Lead value engineering with Product Development and the Inventory Cost Analyst, driving costing for new product launches and identifying material, construction, trim, and packaging improvements on existing lines without compromising quality.

· Maintain spend and savings reporting, and communicate cost and commercial changes and their impact on margin.

· Demand Planning, Purchasing & Supplier Development

· Oversee purchase order issuance, replenishment, and production order placement with domestic and overseas factories.

· Manage procurement execution to ensure on-time delivery within committed lead times and cost targets.

· Establish supplier scorecards and conduct business reviews covering cost, quality, delivery, and responsiveness.

· Drive supplier development programs, including capability building, continuous improvement, and long-term partnerships with strategic suppliers.

· Identify and escalate supply constraints, recommending mitigation plans to protect service levels and margin.

· Own the demand planning process, building forecasts with Sales and Product Development and translating them, with inventory targets, into executable purchasing and production commitments.

· Define and enforce procurement policy, approval thresholds, and controls to ensure compliance and auditability.

· Logistics, Risk, Contracts & Compliance

· Manage supplier contracts, including master supply agreements, NDAs, and renewal cycles.

· Monitor and mitigate supply base risk, including geographic concentration, tariffs, logistics disruption, and financial health of key suppliers.

· Ensure supplier compliance with quality, social, and regulatory requirements applicable to the company's product lines.

· Oversee inbound and outbound logistics, including freight forwarding, customs brokerage, carrier selection, and transportation cost management.

· Evaluate and apply emerging technologies, including blockchain, to improve supply chain traceability, transparency, and documentation.

· Cross-Functional Leadership

· Build, lead, and develop the supply chain team, setting goals and holding the function accountable to results.

· Maintain effective communication across departments to ensure alignment on cost, launch, and service objectives.

· Present supply chain strategies, savings results, and recommendations to senior leadership with clear, data-backed rationale.

Key Performance Indicators

· Year-over-year cost savings and purchase price variance (PPV) against plan

· Total landed cost and gross margin impact by category

· Supplier on-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery performance

· Supplier quality performance and defect/chargeback rates

· Inventory turn and weeks of supply against plan

· Contract coverage and percentage of spend under negotiated agreement

· Forecast accuracy and bias

· Freight and logistics cost as a percentage of sales

· Savings delivered through value engineering initiatives

Required Qualifications

· Minimum of a bachelor's degree in supply chain, business management, finance, or a related field.

· MBA or professional certification (CPSM, CSCP, CPM) a plus.

· Minimum of 10 years of supply chain experience spanning demand planning, sourcing, and logistics, including at least 5 years leading a team.

· Demonstrated track record of delivering cost savings and negotiating favorable supplier and logistics agreements.

· Hands-on experience leading value engineering and supplier development initiatives.

· Working understanding of blockchain concepts and their application to supply chain traceability and transparency.

· Experience sourcing from and managing domestic and overseas suppliers.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office, with advanced Excel skills.

· Proven leadership and team-building ability.

· Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills.

· Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

· Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment.

· A value-oriented, get-it-done mindset with a solutions-focused approach.

Preferred Qualifications

· Preferred experience in the apparel industry.

· Experience with ERP, demand planning, e-sourcing, transportation management, and contract management systems.

· Experience leading a formal S&OP process.

· Experience building a supply chain function or formalizing supply chain processes in a growing organization.

· Familiarity with BI and visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau.

Salary range: $130,000 - $160,000 annually, commensurate with experience, with a 10% bonus commensurate with KPIs. Benefits include medical through Blue Cross, dental and vision through MetLife. 401(k) with 6% company match. Paid time off + 10 holidays.

We are seeking a value-oriented, get-it-done leader who is ready to take on challenges and contribute positively to our team. If you are a commercially minded negotiator and supply chain leader who enjoys working at the intersection of product, cost, and operations, we would like to hear from you. To apply, submit your resume to Fabian Group!

We are an Equal Opportunity / E-Verify Employer.