Director of Supply Chain

About Us: Buell Motorcycles, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based manufacturer of high-performance motorcycles, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Supply Chain to join our growing team.

Role Description The Director of Supply Chain is a full-time, on-site role based in Grand Rapids, MI, responsible for providing strategic leadership while maintaining direct involvement in key supply chain activities. This is a crucial role for supply chain operations, ensuring the timely procurement of high-quality components and materials while optimizing costs and maintaining strong supplier relationships. The ideal candidate will possess a combination of excellent leadership skills, strategic vision, operational acumen, and a passion for motorcycles.

The ideal candidate will have experience in procurement, exceptional negotiation skills, and a proven track record of driving cost savings initiatives without compromising quality. We are seeking a Director of Supply Chain that can also assist their team in maintaining relationships with current suppliers while also reconnecting with past suppliers to assess tooling and parts availability. Someone with a player-coach mentality that isn’t afraid to get down and dirty in assisting with Purchasing and Buying efforts.

Key Responsibilities

Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers, while also fostering and maintaining strong relationships with existing vendors.

• Develop and mentor a high-performing purchasing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts with suppliers to achieve cost savings and favorable terms for Buell Motorcycle Co.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on purchasing strategies and priorities.
• Work closely with Program Management on new model purchasing requirements and goals of the Program (e.g., timing requirements, material targets, localization goals, etc.)
• Lead Sourcing Board activities for source selection of current production and new model program components (including further development of Supplier approval process).
• Adherence to and monitoring of the purchasing project budget(s) in accordance with Program targets.
• Develop purchasing key performance indicators to align with project/Program objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance, quality, and delivery timelines, and take proactive measures to address any issues or deviations from agreed-upon standards.
• Develop and implement procurement strategies to optimize the sourcing and purchasing of materials, parts, and services necessary for motorcycle production.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within the procurement function, identifying opportunities to streamline processes, reduce lead times, and enhance efficiency.
• Development of purchased component commodity groupings/Buyer assignments and supplier optimization strategies as needed to organize Buyer workload and reach organizational objectives.
• Familiarity with industry trends, market conditions, and regulatory requirements to assess purchasing decisions and mitigate risks.
• Develop and implement a process for communicating short- and medium-term cash requirements that enables appropriate prioritization and funding decisions and facilitates on-time vendor shipments. The process provides appropriate visibility to cash requirements, vendor priorities, timing, and potential supply impacts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Purchasing, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management, preferably in the automotive or motorcycle industry.
• Proven track record of successfully managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, and driving cost savings initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Hands-on leader that is willing to mentor and assist their team in purchasing and procurement efforts.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies is a plus.
• Passion for motorcycles and a deep understanding of the motorcycle industry is highly desirable.
• Managerial experience desired but not required. If no prior direct managerial experience, demonstrated leadership amongst a peer group would be expected.