Director of Procurement

Milwaukee Tool•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

WE CREATE EMPOWERED LEADERS! At Milwaukee Tool we firmly believe that our People and our Culture are the secrets to our success -- so we give you unlimited access to everything you need to get the job done. Behind our doors you'll be empowered every day to own it, drive it, and do what it takes to support the biggest breakthroughs in the industry. Meanwhile, you'll have the support and resources of the fastest-growing brand in the construction industry to make it happen. Your Role on Our Team: This role defines, develops, resources, and delivers the Milwaukee Tool North America Indirect Procurement function. The Director of Procurement is accountable for driving results through teams, influencing day-to-day operations and departmental performance, and leading strategic execution aligned with business priorities. The Director of Procurement operates as a senior leader within Milwaukee Tool, balancing short and long-term objectives, managing risk, and ensuring operational excellence while building organizational capability and developing future leaders. Senior Leader Expectations: Drive Growth & Innovation · Provides strategic insights to improve procurement processes, optimize cost, mitigate risk, and increase overall enterprise value. · Leads and executes decisions within the function while clearly communicating risks, tradeoffs, and impacts. · Facilitates problem-solving and creative thinking to balance immediate business needs with longer-term objectives. Drive Execution · Translates business and functional priorities into clear plans, objectives, and metrics. · Oversees procurement strategies, budgets, and resources while maintaining a strong understanding of financial impacts. · Leads change effectively, ensuring alignment across cross-functional partners and supplier networks. · Manages complexity and competing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Build Organizational Capacity · Serves as a role model for Milwaukee Tool culture and leadership behaviors. · Develops direct reports and future leaders through coaching, feedback, and intentional development planning. · Encourages candid dialogue, issue escalation, and constructive conflict across functions. · Builds bench strength, capability, and scalability within the procurement organization. Build High-Performing Teams & Collaborative Relationships · Establishes strong cross-functional partnerships to achieve company objectives. · Leverages influence to align stakeholders and drive results without direct authority. · Maintains composure during change and ambiguity, guiding teams through complexity. · Earns trust internally and externally, including with senior leaders and supplier partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in technical field or business administration; advanced degree preferred
Minimum 10 years of progressive experience with the procurement of services and/or indirect procurement
Minimum 4 years supervisory and managerial experience
Working knowledge of business law and creation/negotiating legal contracts, including multi-year supplier agreements
Excellent negotiating skills; High level of analytical skills
Results driven and deadline orientated. Ability to manage multiple activities and projects to aggressive schedules and results
Strategic thought leadership; Out-of-box creativity and transformational leadership
Ability to develop and nurture productive business relationships, and influence and educate internal and external customers

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction for all procurement activities by setting clear objectives, aligning resources, and driving execution to achieve cost, quality, delivery, and service goals.
Ensure contracts with suppliers and vendors are consistent with corporate objectives.
Lead contract negotiations with top supplier partners.
Develop, track, and communicate key procurement metrics and dashboards to drive accountability, inform decision-making, and continuously improve performance.
Oversee supplier partner relationships to ensure smooth and mutual business connections.
Develop creative supplier partner sourcing strategies and lead, communicate, and manage policies, procedures and processes for the procurement organization.
Direct and develop Procurement strategies that accomplish risk mitigation objectives, productivity generating goals, and driving KPI performance.
Coach and develop the Procurement leadership team by defining career paths, providing candid feedback, and building succession plans to strengthen organizational capability.
Deliver service, materials, components and products purchased at or better than price, quality and delivery objectives each year.
Manage procurement process interface with all relevant departments, functions, and product management teams to provide effective procurement support.
Act as Procurement liaison to New Products Development Team.
Drive the best cost position strategy by negotiating increasingly favorable terms (discounts and payables days), along with annual 5% productivity, including volume growth rebates, commodities and currency savings with all Supplier Partners for North American driven purchases of service, materials, components and finished products.
Collaborate with Business Unit and functional stakeholders to align procurement strategies with enterprise priorities and drive solutions that maximize value for Milwaukee Tool.
Coordinate with Demand/Supply Planning insuring delivery capabilities for forecasts (including long-lead items attainment) and short-term capacity surges of +25% and long-term capacity planning where investments with timing are needed.
Work with Demand/Supply Planning reducing lead times and inventory levels to established goals, including using consignment inventory where needed to achieve these goals.
The individual will be motivated to work in a fast paced, extremely flexible/responsive, team-oriented, collaborative environment, and will be interacting with multiple business units, functional organizations and supplier partners, building strong cross-functional coalitions and working relationships to ensure all Procurement activities are understood, supported and aligned with the US Milwaukee Tool Business.
Performs other duties as assigned.