Senior Supply Chain Manager

Custom OEM Capital Equipment Manufacturing

Compensation: $130k to $160k base plus discretionary bonus (top of range for an exceptional fit)

Reports to: VP of Operations

Budget Responsibility: Approximately $30M annual spend

Team: 9 direct reports (5 Buyers and a 4-person Production Processing team)

Required

• 5+ years of experience leading and developing people, ideally buyers or procurement staff, with a track record of building process and discipline into a team
• Hands-on experience sourcing from machine shop vendors and managing outsourced secondary processes (heat treating, chrome plating, and/or urethane processing)
• Experience in an OEM or custom capital equipment manufacturing environment, ideally with exposure to engineered-to-order, high-mix builds rather than purely high-volume repetitive production
• A track record of introducing KPIs, scorecards, or standardized processes rather than simply operating within existing ones
• Roughly 8 to 15 years of overall experience, with a clear, explainable career progression and a genuine hunger to grow into a bigger seat
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field

Nice to Have

• Experience purchasing for a spare parts or aftermarket operation
• Experience buying commercial components such as motors, gearboxes, and electrical parts
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and Salesforce
• Familiarity with ISO standards and participation in ISO certification initiatives
• A well-established Midwest supplier network with the ability to introduce new vendors
• Experience with freight, logistics, or 3PL contract negotiation

The Opportunity

Our client is a recognized global leader in the design and manufacture of automated, high-speed capital production equipment. For decades, they have built complex, highly customized machinery for customers around the world, earning a reputation for quality, innovation, and long-term customer relationships. These are not off-the-shelf products; a typical project involves 1,000+ line-item builds, engineered-to-order components, and a supply chain that must perform under demanding production schedules.

The company generated $86M in revenue in 2025, and roughly $50M of that flows directly through the supply chain department that this role will lead. That means the person in this seat has real influence over margin, delivery, and the overall health of the business. Leadership is looking for someone who will bring fresh ideas and modern practices to a department with deep legacy knowledge and who will build on what works while changing what does not.

What You’ll Do

• Lead two teams: Manage 5 buyers and a 4-person production processing team that reviews engineering drawings and determines whether components are fabricated in-house or outsourced. This is the core of the role: running both functions cohesively.
• Own outside vendor relationships: Source fabricated and machined components from machine shop vendors, and manage outsourced secondary processes such as heat treating, chrome plating, and urethane processing. This is the most critical hands-on experience for this seat.
• Purchase commercial components: Buy motors, gearboxes, electrical parts, and conveyor systems alongside fabricated parts. Strong negotiators without direct experience in these categories will have the opportunity to learn them quickly.
• Partner with engineering: Support Bills of Materials reviews and make-versus-buy decisions for highly customized equipment builds.
• Build the measurement culture: Develop and introduce KPIs, vendor scorecards, and standardized processes that drive on-time delivery and give leadership clear visibility into performance.
• Grow and strengthen the vendor base: Expand an already substantial supplier book by qualifying new vendors, deepening key relationships, and exiting vendors who consistently underperform.
• Support the aftermarket business: The spare parts and aftermarket side of the business has been growing about 10% a year and is a meaningful revenue driver. Any experience with spare parts, service parts, or balancing production buys against spares availability is a real plus.
• Collaborate at the executive level: Work alongside finance leadership on freight and carrier contract negotiations, and support the company’s ISO certification efforts.

Why This Role Is Different

This is a rare kind of step-up seat: real scope (two teams, a $30M spend, and decisions that influence 60% of company revenue) paired with a leadership team that wants to invest in your growth rather than expecting a finished product on day one. You will not be a caretaker maintaining what already exists. Leadership wants someone who will look at an established operation with fresh eyes, bring new ideas and modern practices, and grow the title and scope of this role over time.

The complexity is real, and it is the fun part. Every project is customized, every build carries 1,000+ line items, and the mix of raw materials, commercial components, in-house fabrication, and…