Senior Director of Purchasing & Global Sourcing

Jowat•High Point, NC

About The Position

Jowat Corporation, the U.S. subsidiary of a German multinational industrial adhesives manufacturer, is seeking a Senior Director of Purchasing & Global Sourcing to lead purchasing and sourcing for its U.S. operations in North Carolina. The role develops and executes sourcing strategies, secures competitive and reliable supply, and builds supplier partnerships in North America and internationally. It combines strategic global sourcing expertise with a strong understanding of manufacturing operations and requires both senior-level commercial negotiation and hands-on engagement with suppliers, markets, materials, and the business’s day-to-day needs. The position works closely with Production, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance, and collaborates with purchasing colleagues and stakeholders across Jowat’s international organization, particularly its European headquarters and global manufacturing network. The Senior Director also leads and develops the U.S. purchasing organization and supports the company’s operational and commercial objectives through responsible, resilient, and value-focused purchasing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Chemistry, Engineering, or a related discipline.
Significant progressive experience in strategic purchasing, procurement, or global sourcing, including senior-level responsibility in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated success sourcing raw materials and components internationally and developing suppliers across multiple regions.
Strong track record negotiating complex commercial agreements and delivering sustainable cost improvements.
Strong understanding of manufacturing supply chains, inventory considerations, supplier qualification, and risk management.
Ability to analyze markets, cost structures, supplier economics, and total landed cost.
Strong commercial judgment and ability to balance cost, quality, availability, working capital, and long-term supply security.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites.
Experience working effectively in a multinational and cross-cultural organization.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or relevant professional certification.
Experience with chemical raw materials, specialty chemicals, adhesives, coatings, polymers, resins, or related process industries.
SAP knowledge.

Responsibilities

Lead purchasing and strategic sourcing activities for U.S. manufacturing operations.
Develop and execute global and regional sourcing strategies for raw materials, packaging, and other key spending categories.
Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop suppliers in North America and international markets.
Negotiate supply agreements, pricing, payment terms, logistics conditions, and other commercial terms.
Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value improvement, and total-cost optimization while maintaining quality, service, and supply security.
Monitor global raw-material markets, supply-and-demand developments, geopolitical risks, tariffs, logistics constraints, and other factors affecting availability and cost.
Develop sourcing alternatives and contingency strategies to strengthen supply-chain resilience and reduce single-source dependencies.
Build strategic relationships with key suppliers and conduct regular supplier and commercial reviews.
Partner with Production, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Finance to align purchasing strategies with operational and commercial objectives.
Collaborate with purchasing colleagues and stakeholders across the international organization, especially the European headquarters and global manufacturing network.
Support qualification and commercialization of alternative raw materials and suppliers with technical and quality teams.
Establish and track purchasing KPIs, savings initiatives, supplier performance, and sourcing projects.
Lead, develop, and mentor the U.S. purchasing organization.
Ensure purchasing follows company policies, ethical standards, contractual requirements, and applicable regulations.