Director of Strategic Sourcing in Des Plaines, Illinois at Warehouse Direct Inc
Explore Related Opportunities
Job Description
Warehouse Direct is looking for a Director of Strategic Sourcing. This position would improve company profitability through strategic sourcing, supplier management, purchasing programs, and cost and margin analysis. The role leads decisions about where and from whom products are purchased, negotiates supplier pricing and programs, and identifies sourcing opportunities while working closely with Purchasing, Pricing, Category Leaders, Sales, Operations, and Finance.
This is a hands-on leadership role that operates at both strategic and tactical levels. The Director partners with Category Leaders on assortment and merchandising decisions by contributing supplier knowledge, sourcing alternatives, and purchasing economics.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead sourcing decisions, supplier selection, and alternate sourcing strategies based on total cost, availability, service, quality, reliability, and program economics.
- Negotiate supplier pricing, terms, rebates, incentives, and programs; manage key supplier relationships and monitor compliance and collection of earned funds.
- Partner with Category Leaders on product, assortment, substitution, and merchandising decisions by providing sourcing, supplier, cost, margin, and program insight.
- Work closely with Purchasing on inventory and buying decisions and with Pricing/Bids on best-cost sourcing, contracts, manufacturer approvals, and product alternatives.
- Analyze purchasing, sales, inventory, cost, margin, freight, supplier, contract, promotions, discounts and forecast data to identify risks, savings, and profitability opportunities.
- Maintain effective reporting, processes, documentation, and hands-on support for sourcing, purchasing programs, contracts, and recurring business needs.
About the Company
- Warehouse Direct has proudly served businesses throughout the Chicagoland area since 1979. As a family-owned company, we help organizations create productive workplaces by providing office supplies, furniture, technology, janitorial products, breakroom solutions, printing services, promotional products, and much more.
- Our employees are the reason for our success. We believe in supporting one another, providing opportunities for growth, and creating a workplace where people enjoy coming to work.
Qualifications & Preferred Experience
- Significant experience in strategic sourcing, purchasing, merchandising, supplier management, wholesale distribution, or a related discipline.
- Strong understanding of product cost, gross margin, supplier programs, purchasing economics, pricing, and profitability, with demonstrated negotiation experience.
- Strong analytical, Excel and Power BI skills with the ability to turn data into practical business decisions and recommendations.
- Comfort working across functions and operating both strategically and tactically in a mid-sized organization.
- Experience in one or more of JanSan, Food Service, Office Products, Breakroom, Packaging and MRO is highly valuable; multi-category experience is especially beneficial. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience preferred.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.
- Financial Protection: Company-Paid Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Identity Theft Protection.
- Additional Protection: Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance.
- Planning for the Future: 401(k) Retirement Savings, Paid Time Off (PTO), and Paid Holidays.
Warehouse Direct is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, sexual orientation, military status, order of protection status or unfavorable discharge from military service.