Overview
Lion is seeking a strategic and results-driven Director of Global Sourcing to lead and optimize the company’s global supplier base. This role is responsible for defining and executing global sourcing strategies that ensure supply continuity, cost competitiveness, quality, and innovation across direct and indirect spend categories. The Director will play a critical leadership role in supplier selection, supplier relationship management, commercial negotiations, and cost optimization initiatives, while partnering closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Finance to support Lion’s growth and profitability objectives.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the global sourcing strategy, aligning supplier capabilities with Lion’s long-term business, growth, and risk management objectives.
- Lead supplier selection and onboarding, including RFx processes, capability assessments, and total cost of ownership (TCO) evaluations.
- Own supplier relationship and performance management, establishing KPIs and governance models covering cost, quality, delivery, innovation, sustainability, and risk.
- Lead supplier agreements and commercial frameworks, including contract negotiations, pricing structures, terms and conditions, and compliance.
- Drive supplier negotiations to achieve year-over-year cost improvements while maintaining supply assurance and quality standards.
- Deliver cost control and productivity initiatives, including VAVE (Value Analysis / Value Engineering), clean sheet cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and continuous improvement programs.
- Partner with Product Management, Supplier Quality Management, Product Development and Operations to influence design-for-cost and design-for-supply decisions early in the product lifecycle.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks, including geopolitical, capacity, financial, and sustainability risks across the global supplier base.
- Build and lead a high-performing global sourcing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Track and report sourcing performance using best-in-class supply chain KPIs, including cost savings, PPV, supplier OTIF, quality PPM, and contract compliance.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in global sourcing, procurement, or supply chain leadership, with demonstrated success in complex, global environments.
- Deep expertise in supplier negotiations, VAVE, clean sheet cost analysis, and cost modeling.
- Proven experience developing and executing global supplier strategies across multiple regions and categories.
- Strong commercial acumen with a solid understanding of contracts, market dynamics, and total cost of ownership.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence senior stakeholders.
- Experience managing and developing high-performing teams in a matrixed or global organization.
- Strong analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred
- 10+ years of progressive experience in global sourcing, procurement, or supply chain leadership
- Deep expertise in supplier negotiations, VAVE, clean sheet cost analysis, and cost modeling
- Proven experience developing and executing global supplier strategies
- Strong commercial acumen with a solid understanding of contracts and market dynamics
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives
- Experience managing and developing high-performing teams
- Strong analytical, communication, and executive presentation skills
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally
What We Do
LION is always ready to make sure you're ready for what's next. We have a legacy and ongoing vision of introducing new products and services — designed to ensure the health, safety and performance of the first responders and military personnel who serve our communities and our country. LION PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) Our game-changing PPE innovations are designed to best prepare firefighters, EMS teams and law enforcement officers for the dangers and hazards they encounter on the emergency calls. Our first responder garments also include high-performance CBRN ensembles, rescue wear and LION StationWear™. Additionally our LION TotalCare® maintenance programs help to extend PPE wear life and safety performance, LION FIRE TRAINING Our state-of-the-art fire training tools and custom training facilities provide the global workforce and first responders with realistic, repeatable training scenarios, keeping them prepared for the potential live-fire dangers they face on the job. LION MILITARY LOGISTICS Paradigm-shifting supply chain and logistics programs from our LVI division help keep equip our warfighters for the rigors of training and the challenges of battle. Always keeping first responders ready for action....before, during and after.
