Director of Procurement in Meriden, Connecticut at Plimpton & Hills Corp Inc

Company Overview:

Plimpton & Hills Corporation is a leading distributor of plumbing, heating, HVAC, and industrial products serving contractors, businesses, and homeowners across the Northeast. With multiple branch locations and showrooms, the company is committed to providing quality products, expert support, and reliable service to the professionals and communities we serve.

Position Purpose:

The Director of Procurement is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, purchasing, inventory planning, and supplier management functions for a leading HVAC, heating, cooling, hydronics, plumbing, and mechanical wholesale distributor. This position plays a critical role in ensuring product availability across a multi-branch distribution network while optimizing inventory investment, strengthening manufacturer partnerships, and driving gross margin improvement.

The Director of Procurement collaborates closely with Sales, Operations, Branch Leadership, Finance, and key manufacturer partners to develop purchasing strategies that support customer demand, seasonal market fluctuations, and business growth initiatives. This role requires a strong understanding of wholesale distribution, supply chain dynamics, inventory management, demand planning, and supplier relationship management.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Procurement Leadership

• Develop and execute procurement strategies that support company growth, profitability, and customer service objectives.
• Lead sourcing and purchasing activities across HVAC equipment, heating and cooling products, hydronics, plumbing, water heating, PVF (pipe, valves, and fittings), and related mechanical product categories.
• Partner with executive leadership to align purchasing strategies with market opportunities and business goals.
• Evaluate industry trends, commodity fluctuations, lead-time risks, and supply chain challenges to proactively adjust procurement strategies.
• Drive margin improvement initiatives through strategic sourcing, rebate optimization, and vendor negotiations.
• Establish and monitor procurement KPIs including inventory turns, fill rates, supplier performance, inventory aging, and purchasing effectiveness.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance procurement efficiency, inventory productivity, and operational performance.

Inventory Planning & Supply Chain Management

• Lead inventory planning and replenishment strategies across all branch locations and distribution facilities.
• Balance product availability with inventory investment targets to maximize customer service levels and working capital performance.
• Develop seasonal purchasing strategies to support fluctuations in heating and cooling demand.
• Analyze demand patterns, sales forecasts, market conditions, and inventory trends to optimize stock levels.
• Reduce excess and obsolete inventory while maintaining strong service levels for contractor customers.
• Develop contingency plans to address supply disruptions, supplier allocations, and extended manufacturer lead times.

Supplier & Manufacturer Relationship Management

• Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with key manufacturers and suppliers across HVAC, heating, cooling, hydronics, plumbing, water heating, PVF (pipe, valves, and fittings), and related mechanical product categories to ensure product availability, optimize inventory investments, and maximize supplier program benefits.
• Lead negotiations involving pricing agreements, rebate programs, freight terms, inventory investments, stocking commitments, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Develop supplier scorecards measuring performance, including fill rates, lead times, product availability, pricing competitiveness, and service levels.
• Collaborate with manufacturers on new product introductions, training initiatives, inventory investments, and market growth opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to improve supplier performance and strengthen long-term strategic partnerships.

Sales & Operations Partnership

• Partner with Sales Leadership to support product category strategies, growth initiatives, customer opportunities, and manufacturer programs.
• Collaborate with branch managers and operations leaders to align inventory investments with local market demand and customer needs.
• Support contractor customers through proactive inventory planning and product availability strategies.
• Work closely with Finance to support budgeting, forecasting, inventory valuation, and working capital objectives.
• Provide strategic procurement insights to executive leadership regarding market conditions, pricing trends, and product availability.

Financial Performance & Compliance

• Manage procurement-related budgets and inventory investment targets.
• Drive cost reductions while maintaining quality, service, and supplier relationships.
• Monitor purchasing performance, rebate programs, and gross margin opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with purchasing policies, supplier agreements, and internal controls.
• Support annual planning, audit processes, and supplier contract management activities.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop purchasing, inventory planning, and procurement team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance expectations, development plans, and succession strategies.
• Promote best practices in procurement, inventory management, and supplier relationship management.
• Build organizational capabilities that support future business growth.

Experience and Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Operations, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive leadership experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, inventory management, or distribution operations.
• Minimum of 5 years of management experience leading procurement or supply chain teams.
• Experience within HVAC distribution, plumbing and heating wholesale, mechanical distribution, industrial distribution, or related industries.
• Proven success managing manufacturer relationships and negotiating strategic supplier agreements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within a multi-branch wholesale distribution environment.
• APICS, CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent supply chain certification

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.