Director of Purchasing

EA Talent Solutions has been engaged by a Nassau County–based wholesale distributor to identify a Director of Purchasing to lead the purchasing department and own the performance of the function - keeping products flowing at the right cost and service levels by running the team, developing its people, and building the processes the department depends on. The company competes on service, and purchasing exists to protect the reliable product availability that keeps customers loyal.

The role owns a team of associate buyers, the expediting function, the department's operating metrics, and the standards the team works toward. This is a build role: the ideal candidate will strengthen how the department operates, not simply keep it running.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Set clear goals, measure performance, and hold buyers accountable for results.
• Coach and develop the team, managing performance directly, including underperformance.
• Assign clear ownership across the team for every responsibility.

Process Ownership & Standardization

• Develop, document, and enforce consistent SOPs.
• Introduce automation and tooling that removes manual work.
• Continuously improve processes to boost service, cost, or efficiency.

Metrics & Operational Ownership

• Own operating metrics: a 96% fill rate, expediting performance, purchase-order date accuracy, and out-of-stock prevention.
• Oversee purchase-order flow and replenishment execution.
• Own resolution of receiving discrepancies and OSD claims, reducing downstream cleanup.

Importing & Inbound

• Own the import process end to end: proforma invoices, minimum order quantities, pricing, and discrepancy negotiation.
• Coordinate inbound freight shipments and consolidations, working closely with Operations on receiving.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work with Operations and the warehouse on receiving and inventory accuracy.
• Align with Sales and Merchandising on demand, promotions, and product decisions.
• Coordinate with Finance on terms, invoicing, and vendor payment issues.
• Uphold the company's service reputation and vendor relationships through reliable execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Five to ten years of purchasing experience, including at least three years managing a team.
• Proven leadership skills and a track record of building accountable teams.
• Able to own the processes and performance of a function, not just individual purchasing work.
• Strong analytical aptitude, with the ability to drive problems to actionable solutions.
• Highly proficient in Excel, including filters, pivot tables, and large data sets.
• Experience with domestic and overseas suppliers, and a solid understanding of import processes.
• Track record of improving processes and introducing tools that reduce manual work.
• Detail oriented and highly organized, with clear communication skills.
• Flexible, resourceful, and comfortable leading a team through change.
• Calm and steady under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

As a recruitment and workforce management service, we are committed to promoting equal employment opportunity in all recruitment processes. We conduct our services in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and equal employment opportunity laws. We do not discriminate against candidates on the basis of veteran or disability status or any protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law. All candidate referrals are made based on individual qualifications, merit, and the requirements of the position. Clients engaging our services are reminded of their own legal responsibilities to uphold anti-discrimination laws and are expected to treat all referred candidates fairly and lawfully throughout the hiring process.