Supply Chain Director
Main Line Talent Group
Waukesha, WI · Posted September 17, 2026
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Where Waukesha, WI ranks
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November 2026
- #8Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Midwest61% · of 69
- #8Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Great Lakes61% · of 53
- #13Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Great Lakes0.9% · of 50
- #21Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the Midwest0.9% · of 67
- #22Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Great Lakes52 openings · of 48
Rankings about operations jobs
- Best cities for operations jobs #1 New York (1,429 openings)
- Best cities for operations pay after cost of living #1 Reston ($177k)
- Most requested AI skills in operations jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (2.5%)
- AI tools named most often in operations jobs #1 Claude (0.28%)
- Employers with the most operations jobs #1 Amazon (1,480 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among transportation, storage, and distribution managers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for transportation, storage, and distribution managers: 10% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
Our client is a technology-focused manufacturer specializing in purpose-built computing solutions for demanding, mission-critical environments. With a strong track record in long-lifecycle product programs, they operate a highly engineered, low-volume/high-mix production environment serving defense, industrial, and commercial markets. As they scale, they are creating a new Director of Supply Chain role reporting directly to the CEO to unify and elevate their supply chain function. The Director of Supply Chain will lead and unify the Material Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Tactical Procurement, and Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) functions under a single, accountable owner. This is a high-visibility, highly collaborative Leadership Team role built for a hands-on operator who is prepared to build planning and sourcing discipline into a team that has historically operated more tactically than strategically — without adding unnecessary bureaucracy or diminishing the organization's speed and flexibility. Material Planning & Inventory Strategy Build and maintain a material planning approach that keeps production supplied against firm and forecasted demand, tuned to long product lifecycles and low/no-EOL sourcing constraints. Set inventory strategies and buffer/safety stock policies by commodity and program that protect lead times without carrying excess or obsolete inventory. Own the forecast-to-buy discipline that ties purchasing commitments (including NCNR terms) to real demand signals, reducing exposure to market pricing swings. Partner with Sales to improve forecast accuracy and translate customer demand signals into actionable material plans. Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management Own supplier selection, qualification, and segmentation strategy across electronic components, subassemblies, and mechanical/rugged enclosures. Negotiate pricing, terms, and supply agreements; hold the line on pricing enforcement with existing suppliers. Develop dual-source and risk-mitigation strategies for constrained or single-source components common in long-lifecycle electronics. Partner with Product Management on supplier technical relationships where sourcing strategy intersects with product roadmap. Tactical Procurement Execution Own day-to-day purchasing execution: PO issuance, expediting, supplier delivery performance, and issue resolution. Drive supplier scorecarding and hold underperforming suppliers accountable on quality, delivery, and cost. Build the operating cadence (S&OP-style reviews) that connects procurement execution to the production build schedule. Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Program Own and manage the company's Foreign Trade Zone program, using it to bring in components duty-free and support duty-deferred inventory strategies. Leverage the FTZ to provide a competitive, duty-free advantage on outbound shipments. Ensure FTZ operations remain compliant with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirements, including recordkeeping, inventory control, and reporting. Cross-Functional Leadership & KPI Ownership Lead, develop, and hold accountable the Material Planning, Strategic Sourcing, Tactical Procurement, and FTZ teams as one cohesive Supply Chain organization. Define and own the KPI set for the function: on-time delivery, inventory turns/days-on-hand, lead-time attainment, supplier delivery performance, and cost — and report progress to the CEO and Leadership Team. Own the S&OP cadence with Sales, translating demand forecasts into material plans, sourcing commitments, and inventory strategy. Partner closely with Sales, Engineering, Production, and Finance to align supply chain strategy with demand forecasts, build plans, new product introductions, and working capital targets. Requirements Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field. 8+ years of progressive electronics supply chain leadership experience spanning material planning, strategic sourcing, and procurement — ideally in an ODM, OEM, or complex electronics manufacturing environment. Demonstrated track record of improving on-time delivery and lead-time performance while keeping inventory investment disciplined. Deep familiarity with electronic component markets (semiconductors, memory, passives) including allocation cycles, lead-time volatility, and pricing exposure. Experience managing supplier negotiations and contract terms, including NCNR and forecast-driven purchase structures. Proven people leadership — building and running a multi-function team across planning, sourcing, and procurement. Comfort operating in a long-lifecycle, low-volume/high-mix environment rather than high-volume consumer electronics. ERP/MRP fluency and a data-driven approach to planning and KPI management. Preferred Experience with Foreign Trade Zones, customs compliance, or duty drawback/deferral programs. APICS/CPSM or equivalent supply chain certification. Experience in a private equity-backed or growth-stage environment. Benefits Benefits Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity coverage Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Life and AD&D Insurance Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Transportation and Parking Accounts Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution 401(k) with company matching contribution Legal Benefits Identity Theft Protection Pet Insurance Wellness Program Offerings Paid Time Off accrued per pay period (starting at 15 days annually based on tenure) 8 Paid Holidays per year, including 1 floating holiday