Director of Supplier Performance

Circor Careers•Warren, MA

About The Position

The Director of Supplier Performance establishes and leads the enterprise supplier performance strategy to ensure supplier quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, risk management, and operational excellence support business objectives, customer commitments, and long-term growth. The role provides strategic leadership for supplier performance management, supplier development, supply continuity, supplier risk management, and cross-functional supply chain execution. The Director leads supplier performance governance and improvement programs, builds supplier capabilities, and aligns supplier outcomes with organizational objectives. This position partners with US NAVY Executive Leadership and leaders across Operations, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, and Program Management. The Director is accountable for the health, resilience, and performance of the supply base and for developing organizational capabilities that advance operational excellence, business growth, and customer satisfaction.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related technical discipline.
At least 15 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, Manufacturing Operations, or related leadership roles.
At least 8 years of leadership experience managing managers, teams, or enterprise supplier performance programs.
Extensive experience leading supplier performance, supplier quality, supplier development, procurement, or supply chain organizations in complex manufacturing environments.
Strong executive leadership capabilities and demonstrated success building and leading high-performing teams.
Deep knowledge of supplier management, strategic sourcing, manufacturing operations, supply chain planning, and risk management.
Experience establishing enterprise supplier governance programs and performance management frameworks.
Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation and supply base performance improvement initiatives.
Strong financial acumen and understanding of cost structures, productivity metrics, and business drivers.
Advanced analytical capabilities and experience using data and business intelligence tools to support decisions.
Ability to influence executive leadership, customers, and strategic suppliers.
Strong negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
Experience managing global supplier networks and complex supply chain environments.
Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and operational excellence methodologies.
Ability to develop and execute long-term strategic plans.
Knowledge of business continuity planning, supplier risk assessment, and compliance requirements.
U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering Management, Operations, or a related discipline.
APICS/ASCM certification, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or equivalent professional certification.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the US NAVY Supplier Performance Management strategy in alignment with corporate objectives and growth initiatives.
Establish supplier performance governance processes, standards, policies, and accountability mechanisms across the organization.
Lead supplier performance, supplier development, supplier risk management, and supply continuity programs.
Build and lead a high-performing supplier performance organization focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Provide executive leadership with strategic recommendations and performance insights about supplier capabilities, risks, and opportunities.
Develop near-term and long-term roadmaps to improve supply base performance, resilience, scalability, and competitiveness.
Establish and oversee supplier scorecards, KPI frameworks, and performance monitoring systems.
Lead executive business reviews with strategic and critical suppliers.
Ensure suppliers meet targets for quality, delivery, responsiveness, capacity, service, and cost.
Drive supplier accountability through performance improvement plans, corrective actions, and recovery programs.
Monitor supplier performance trends and direct interventions when performance risks exist.
Promote data-driven decisions through supplier analytics and reporting systems.
Lead supplier development initiatives to improve manufacturing, quality, operational, and technical capabilities.
Ensure strategic suppliers have the capacity, processes, and competencies to support business growth.
Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Engineering during supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding.
Direct supplier capability assessments, operational audits, and maturity evaluations.
Promote supplier adoption of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Establish comprehensive supplier risk management and business continuity programs, with an emphasis on casting performance improvement.
Identify and mitigate supply disruption risks related to capacity, financial stability, geopolitical events, regulatory compliance, and operational performance.
Develop escalation processes and executive response strategies for critical supplier issues.
Ensure continuity-of-supply plans are established for strategic and sole-source suppliers.
Oversee supplier capacity planning and readiness activities that support business growth and customer demand.
Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Procurement leadership to align sourcing strategies with supplier performance objectives.
Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, and Planning teams to support production requirements and inventory objectives.
Work with Engineering and Quality organizations to improve supplier processes, product quality, and manufacturability.
Support new product introduction, product transfers, and supplier readiness activities.
Influence organizational priorities and resource allocation to support supplier performance initiatives.
Establish talent development strategies, succession planning, and organizational capability-building initiatives.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Build strong partnerships with executive stakeholders and strategic suppliers.