Director of Supplier Performance

Job Location: Warren, MA; Monroe, NC

Description

POSITION DETAILS – Director, Supplier Performance

Position Summary

The Director, Supplier Performance is responsible for establishing and leading the enterprise supplier performance strategy to ensure supplier quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, risk management, and operational excellence support business objectives, customer commitments, and long-term growth initiatives.

This role provides strategic leadership for supplier performance management, supplier development, supply continuity, supplier risk management, and cross-functional supply chain execution across the organization. The Director serves as a key leader in developing world-class supplier capabilities, driving supply base transformation, and ensuring alignment between business objectives and supplier performance outcomes.

The Director partners closely with US NAVY Executive Leadership, Operations, Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, and Program Management leaders to establish supplier performance expectations, governance processes, and continuous improvement strategies. This position is accountable for the overall health, resilience, and performance of the supply base and for developing organizational capabilities that support operational excellence, business growth, and customer satisfaction.

Principal Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Develop and execute the US NAVY Supplier Performance Management strategy aligned with corporate objectives and growth initiatives.
• Establish supplier performance governance processes, standards, policies, and accountability mechanisms across the organization.
• Serve as the executive leader responsible for supplier performance, supplier development, supplier risk management, and supply continuity programs.
• Build and lead a high-performing supplier performance organization focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic recommendations and performance insights to executive leadership regarding supplier capabilities, risks, and opportunities.
• Develop near-term and long-term roadmaps to improve supply base performance, resiliency, scalability, and competitiveness.

Supplier Performance Management

• Establish and oversee US NAVY supplier scorecards, KPI frameworks, and performance monitoring systems.
• Lead executive business reviews with strategic and critical suppliers.
• Ensure supplier performance targets for quality, delivery, responsiveness, capacity, service, and cost are consistently achieved.
• Drive supplier accountability through performance improvement plans, corrective actions, and recovery programs.
• Monitor supplier performance trends and direct intervention strategies where performance risks exist.
• Champion data-driven decision making through advanced supplier analytics and reporting systems.

Supplier Development & Capability Enhancement

• Lead enterprise supplier development initiatives to enhance manufacturing, quality, operational, and technical capabilities.
• Ensure strategic suppliers possess the capacity, processes, and competencies necessary to support business growth.
• Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Engineering teams during supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding activities.
• Direct supplier capability assessments, operational audits, and maturity evaluations.
• Drive supplier adoption of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, automation, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Risk Management & Supply Continuity

• Establish and maintain comprehensive supplier risk management and business continuity programs, with an emphasis on casting performance improvement.
• Lead proactive identification and mitigation of supply disruption risks related to capacity, financial stability, geopolitical events, regulatory compliance, and operational performance.
• Develop escalation processes and executive response strategies for critical supplier issues.
• Ensure continuity-of-supply plans are established for strategic and sole-source suppliers.
• Oversee supplier capacity planning and readiness activities supporting business growth and customer demand requirements.

Cross-Functional & Organizational Leadership

• Partner with Strategic Sourcing and Procurement leadership to align sourcing strategies with supplier performance objectives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing and Planning teams to support production requirements and inventory objectives.
• Work closely with Engineering and Quality organizations to improve supplier processes, product quality, and manufacturability.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), product transfers, and supplier readiness activities.
• Influence organizational priorities and resource allocation to support supplier performance initiatives.
• Establish talent development strategies, succession planning, and organizational capability-building initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Build strong partnerships with executive stakeholders and strategic suppliers.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive experience leading supplier performance, supplier quality, supplier development, procurement, or supply chain organizations within complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong executive leadership capabilities with demonstrated success building and leading high-performing teams.
• Deep knowledge of supplier management, strategic sourcing, manufacturing operations, supply chain planning, and risk management.
• Proven experience establishing enterprise supplier governance programs and performance management frameworks.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation and supply base performance improvement initiatives.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of cost structures, productivity metrics, and business drivers.
• Advanced analytical capabilities with experience leveraging data and business intelligence tools to drive decisions.
• Ability to influence executive leadership, customers, and strategic suppliers.
• Strong negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Experience managing global supplier networks and complex supply chain environments.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and operational excellence methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute long-term strategic plans.
• Strong knowledge of business continuity planning, supplier risk assessment, and compliance requirements.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or related technical discipline required.
• Master's Degree (MBA, Engineering Management, Operations, or related discipline) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, Supplier Quality, Supplier Development, Manufacturing Operations, or related leadership roles.
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience managing managers, teams, or enterprise supplier performance programs.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale supplier performance improvements and strategic supply chain initiatives.
• APICS/ASCM certifications, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), or equivalent professional certifications preferred. 

Other

• U.S. Citizen

CIRCOR is an EEO Employer of Females / Minorities / Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities