Director of Purchasing

Director of Purchasing – Metals Distribution - Indianapolis, IN We are seeking an experienced Director of Purchasing to lead the purchasing, procurement, and supply sourcing function for a well-established metals distribution organization. This is a high-impact leadership position responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies, managing key mill and supplier relationships, forecasting purchasing and inventory needs, and ensuring the company maintains a reliable and competitive supply of nonferrous metal products. The ideal candidate will bring significant experience within metals distribution, service centers, aluminum/nonferrous metals, steel, or a related industrial environment and have a strong understanding of commodity markets, mill relationships, inventory strategy, and procurement risk. Key Responsibilities Lead the company's overall purchasing, procurement, sourcing, and inventory purchasing strategy Manage and strengthen relationships with mills, processors, and key suppliers Negotiate pricing, contracts, terms, volume commitments, rebates, allocations, and supply agreements Analyze commodity trends, market pricing, mill lead times, customer demand, and supply-chain risks to guide purchasing decisions Lead purchasing forecasts and inventory planning while balancing product availability, inventory turns, working capital, cash flow, and customer needs Identify opportunities for cost savings, improved supplier performance, purchasing efficiencies, and stronger supply continuity Support commodity-based risk management, market exposure, and hedging considerations Partner closely with Sales, Operations, Finance, Quality, and executive leadership on purchasing and inventory strategy Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to the company's Buyer and overall purchasing function Serve as a key advisor to executive leadership on market conditions, supplier strategy, inventory investment, and procurement risk What We're Looking For 7–10+ years of progressive purchasing, procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or related experience Leadership or management experience within a purchasing/procurement function Experience within metals, aluminum, nonferrous alloys, steel, service centers, manufacturing, or industrial distribution strongly preferred Proven experience managing mill/supplier relationships, negotiations, contracts, inventory planning, and procurement forecasting Strong understanding of commodity pricing, market trends, supplier capacity, inventory management, and purchasing strategy Strong financial and business acumen with the ability to evaluate cost, margin, working capital, and inventory impact Advanced analytical, forecasting, negotiation, and decision-making skills Experience with ERP systems, purchasing tools, reporting systems, and Microsoft Excel Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent industry experience will be considered The Opportunity This is an opportunity to take ownership of a critical function within an established metals organization and have a direct impact on purchasing strategy, supplier relationships, inventory performance, profitability, and future growth. We're looking for someone who understands that great purchasing is about more than simply placing orders — it's about understanding the market, anticipating demand, managing risk, building strong mill relationships, and making strategic decisions that improve the business. If you have a strong background in metals procurement and are ready to step into a senior leadership role with significant responsibility and visibility, we'd like to hear from you.

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