Director of Supply Chain

Posted Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:00 AM

Business

Title:

Director of Supply Chain

Reports to:

VP of North America Operations

Company Info:
With a heritage of nearly 120 years, we aren’t just a company; we are a brand of trust. But more than anything, we are a collection of individuals who, together, give Grote Industries a decisive competitive advantage. At Grote, our shared vision is clear – to meet the needs of the customers we serve. We accomplish that mission every day by following a set of core values that makes us who we are.

Innovation has been the hallmark of Grote Industries from the start. From durable, easy to see stop lights to the latest in LED lighting technology, Grote has been leading the way in advanced vehicle system solutions from early in the last century right up to today. With these innovations, Grote has helped millions of people throughout North America and the world benefit from the innovation and design excellence of Grote products.

The Director of Supply Chain leads the development and continuous improvement of a world-class end-to-end supply chain, including procurement, sourcing, supplier development, logistics, inventory, and planning. The role drives global category strategies, negotiates with key suppliers, and ensures alignment with corporate goals for customer satisfaction, operational excellence, and cost competitiveness. The leader champions Lean principles to eliminate waste, optimize material flow, and enable continuous improvement across the supply chain operation.

• Develop and execute a world-class, resilient, and Lean global supply chain strategy
• Align supply chain initiatives with corporate goals for quality, delivery, cost, innovation, and risk
• Partner cross‑functionally to support product launches and customer commitments
• Lead category strategies for critical raw materials and components
• Segment and manage strategic suppliers to ensure supply assurance
• Negotiate long‑term supplier agreements that improve cost and performance
• Drive supplier adoption of Lean and quality standards
• Deploy Lean principles including JIT, Kanban, 5S, and value stream optimization
• Improve material flow, inventory turns, and pull‑based replenishment
• Enhance visibility and decision‑making through KPIs and analytics
• Implement supplier governance including performance scorecards and improvement plans
• Foster a high‑performing, accountable, and collaborative supply chain organization
• Conduct supplier audits and assessments across cost, delivery, quality, and compliance

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or related field; MBA or master’s preferred. 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in a manufacturing environment. Proven experience implementing Lean principles in supply chain, procurement, and material management. Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and global supply management. Experience in OEM and Aftermarket sectors preferred, ideally in automotive, heavy equipment, or industrial products.

Track record of leading cross‑functional supply chain transformations and driving cost, delivery, and service improvement.