Sr. Director Of Procurement

American Industrial Transport•Saint Charles, MO

47d

About The Position

The Senior Director, Procurement is responsible for leading the strategy, direction, and oversight of all purchasing functions across AITX, including Capital Car acquisitions, Repair Operations and Fleet Operations. This role provides executive leadership for teams responsible for shop-level materials purchasing, railcar and tank car procurement support, and contracting with third-party repair providers. The Senior Director ensures purchasing activities are aligned, efficient, cost-effective, compliant, and supportive of business needs across the organization, while maintaining strong supplier partnerships and consistent standards. This position directly oversees the Director of Purchasing and the purchasing organization supporting both Repair and Fleet Operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred or relevant procurement or supply chain certifications preferred
10+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or supply chain leadership experience
Experience in rail, transportation, manufacturing, industrial services, or other heavy industry strongly preferred
Proven experience leading procurement teams and supporting multi-location or enterprise environments
Demonstrated success negotiating large, complex supplier agreements and commercial contracts
Strong financial and business acumen related to cost management, supplier economics, inventory, and working capital
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage and influence senior leadership and operational teams
Strong leadership presence with demonstrated ability to develop teams and drive accountability
Experience with ERP purchasing systems (NetSuite, SAP, or similar) and advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, particularly Excel
Strong understanding of purchasing compliance, contracting principles, and supplier governance
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment and make sound independent decisions
Travel up to approximately 50%

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, structure, and oversight for all purchasing and procurement activities across Repair Operations and Fleet Operations
Drive enterprise financial performance through driving net cost reductions, exploring alternative supply and inventory concepts, and driving improvements in working capital.
Lead and support teams responsible for shop-level purchasing, materials management, supplier negotiations, and Fleet procurement activities
Oversee vendor relationships, supplier selection, contract execution, and ongoing supplier performance management
Lead negotiations for major supply agreements, third-party repair contracts, and railcar-related procurement support
Establish and support supplier scorecard programs and key performance metrics to strengthen decision-making and performance accountability
Oversee inventory management oversight strategies to balance operational support needs with working capital expectations
Ensure purchasing processes, approvals, controls, and documentation standards are consistently applied across the organization
Ensure compliance with company policies, purchasing ethics, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements
Support ERP purchasing functionality, reporting, process improvements, and purchasing visibility across the organization, while supporting the roll-out of the next phase of ERP functionality
Partner closely with Fleet leadership, Repair Operations leadership, Finance, Legal, and other stakeholders to align purchasing execution with business needs
Provide clear communication and reporting on purchasing performance, supplier performance, cost control initiatives, and operational support efforts. Develop procurement KPI’s allowing for real-time and period end accountability.
Lead, coach, and develop procurement talent, building a collaborative, performance-driven team culture
Other duties and strategic initiatives as assigned