Director of Purchase

Role Purpose Tractel Inc. is a world\-leading safety specialist for height safety and productivity solutions and services. The Director of Procurement is responsible for leading the procurement strategy, purchasing operations, supplier performance, and material planning processes for the organization. This role will build a proactive, data\-driven procurement function that ensures material availability, improves cost competitiveness, reduces supply risk, and supports business growth. The position requires an experienced procurement leader with a strong focus on process improvement, ERP/MRP optimization, demand visibility, and cross\-functional coordination. The Director will improve integration between BOMs, sales orders, work orders, inventory commitments, and purchasing requirements, replacing manual workarounds with scalable and sustainable processes. Responsibilities Strategic Procurement \& Sourcing **Develop and execute procurement strategies aligned with operational and financial objectives.** Lead strategic sourcing, supplier selection, qualification, negotiations, and contract management. **Establish supplier segmentation, risk mitigation, and dual\-sourcing strategies where appropriate.** Identify and deliver cost reduction, lead\-time improvement, and working\-capital opportunities. **Monitor market conditions, material trends, tariffs, and supply\-chain risks.** Purchasing Operations \& Material Availability **Ensure purchasing activities support customer demand, production schedules, service projects, and inventory targets.** Improve visibility of committed inventory, open demand, shortages, and future purchasing requirements. **Establish clear purchasing priorities and escalation processes for critical materials and backorders.** Coordinate with Planning, Operations, Workshop, Engineering, Sales, and Finance to align demand and supply. **Strengthen purchase\-order execution, confirmations, expediting, and delivery follow\-up.** Process Improvement \& Digital Transformation **Assess current procurement workflows and lead improvements that reduce manual work and recurring operational pressure.** Standardize purchasing processes, controls, approval flows, and documentation. **Lead root\-cause analysis and corrective actions for shortages, late deliveries, excess inventory, and process failures.** Develop scalable solutions using ERP/MRP capabilities, automation, business intelligence, and AI where appropriate. **Create a continuous\-improvement roadmap with measurable priorities, owners, and outcomes.** ERP, BOM \& Data Governance **Improve the connection between BOMs, sales orders, work orders, inventory commitments, and procurement planning.** Partner with Operations, Engineering, and IT to improve ERP/MRP configuration, reporting, and demand signals. **Establish ownership and controls for purchasing master data, supplier data, lead times, reorder parameters, and item settings.** Improve data accuracy and ensure purchasing decisions are based on reliable system information. **Reduce dependence on spreadsheets and disconnected manual tracking tools.** Supplier Performance \& Compliance **Establish supplier KPIs and formal performance\-review processes covering quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, and risk.** Drive supplier development and corrective\-action plans when performance does not meet expectations. **Ensure purchasing activities comply with company policies, contractual requirements, trade regulations, and ethical standards.** Support import/export documentation, country\-of\-origin requirements, and procurement\-related compliance. Leadership, Reporting \& Team Development **Lead, coach, and develop the Purchasing and Procurement team.** Define roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and succession plans. **Create dashboards and executive reporting for material availability, supplier performance, cost savings, purchase price variance, backorders, inventory exposure, and procurement cycle time.** Promote accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and a culture of continuous improvement. Position Requirements Skills \& Knowledge **Strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, contract management, and supplier development.** Strong knowledge of procurement, inventory planning, demand management, and manufacturing workflows. **Demonstrated ability to redesign processes and implement sustainable improvements.** Strong ERP/MRP knowledge and experience improving system utilization and data quality. **Advanced analytical, problem\-solving, communication, and change\-management skills.** Leadership \& Cooperation Responsible for Provides strategic and operational leadership for Procurement and Purchasing. Works closely with: Operations and Production Planning Workshop and Service Leadership Supply Chain and Logistics Engineering and Quality / QHSE Sales and Customer Service Finance and IT HSPS NAM Management Team Suppliers and key external partners Owns procurement strategy, purchasing execution, supplier performance, material availability, process governance, and the development of the procurement team. * Proficiency with Excel and reporting / business\-intelligence tools; knowledge of automation and AI applications is a plus. Experience **5\+ years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, supply chain, or related operations.** 5\+ years of leadership experience managing procurement or purchasing teams. **Experience in manufacturing, industrial equipment, engineered products, service operations, or a similar environment preferred.** Proven results in cost reduction, supplier performance, material availability, inventory optimization, and process improvement. **Experience leading ERP/MRP optimization or procurement transformation initiatives.** Qualifications / How to apply **Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field required; master's degree is a plus.** Professional certification such as CPSM, C.P.M., CSCP, CPIM, or equivalent is preferred. **Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous\-improvement training is preferred.** Fluent in English; Spanish or additional languages are a plus. Pay: $80,000\.00 \- $85,000\.00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * Dental insurance * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Parental leave * Vision insurance Work Location: In person