At Azelis, CASE covers coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, inks, building and construction products. Our products perform a multitude of tasks: creating the perfect finish or texture vital protection, adhesion or longevity.

Summary:

The Director of Supply Chain is a key strategic role for distribution in the Specialty-Chemical market responsible for all aspects of inventory, purchasing, managing landed costs, forecast/demand planning, assisting with new principal setup, warehousing, quality control, inbound/Hub & Spoke logistics, supply-chain risk, and net working capital savings initiatives. The Director of Supply Chain drives strategic efforts and Sales and Operation Planning (S&OP) to develop and align demand, supply, and inventory plans, and communicate these plans to gain consensus from Sales, Operations, Finance and Senior Management to support business goals. The Director of Supply Chain has overall responsibility for developing and implementing strategic and operating plans to ensure that appropriate Supply Chain solutions are advanced, supporting current business needs and projected multi-year future growth to ensure meeting business goals for product line and profitability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

Strategic

• Develop KPIs to monitor and drive performance
• Develop and implement strategies to effectively manage inventory levels, reduce inventory costs and delivery times while improving service quality.
• Direct and refine all aspects of product forecasting management by working collaboratively for principals, suppliers, customers, and key internal stakeholders.
• Determine, develop and guide Supply Chain organizational initiatives to support continuous improvement of supply chain processes, infrastructure, and people
• Lead the ongoing development of a highly effective supply-chain function to support the sales and customer service goals of the organization
• Assess and validate tolling, repackaging and down-packing options of bulk-chemical products to smaller packages.
• Collaborates with the Azelis corporate operations team to promote best practices and synergies across the various Azelis divisions

Staff Management

• Manage the organization's supply chain staff activities to ensure optimum inventory levels and inventory turns while also satisfying the demands of customers and complying with supplier minimum purchasing requirements
• Ensure that written policies and procedures are in place to support best practices and are consistently applied
• Establish and monitor key staff performance metrics and perform annual reviews
• Conduct regular meetings to review open orders, inventory aging, back order reports, etc. and direct appropriate action
• Conduct cross-functional training meetings to increase effectiveness of the supply chain function to achieve customer service excellence

Inventory Management

• Oversee demand planning activities, monitor progress, revise schedules and resolve problems
• Learn and gain deep understanding of Forecasting software used. Monitor its usage and effectiveness within department
• Develop and simplify purchasing and inventory control processes to maximize on-time delivery to customers, including forecasting, stock levels and warehouse optimization
• Development and coordination of the company's warehouse "hub and spoke" methodology so as to ensure highest possible inventory turn and total customer satisfaction
• Develop and execute an effective "min-max" inventory program for the company's buyers
• Monitor inventory aging and Date of Expiration (DOE) reports and work with VPs of Sales to proactively manage items requiring extra attention (return to supplier, promotional sale, disposal) in order to minimize write-offs
• Identify new suppliers and source raw materials to fill portfolio gaps and meet customer demand

Inventory Costs and Supplier Management

• Responsible for maintaining accurate inventory cost in Chempax including changes due to supplier price increases or supplier supported special pricing to meet competitive situations (CUPS, SPA's)
• Maintain accurate standard costs in Chempax for warehousing and freight
• Achieve financial objectives by compiling and studying costs, initiating preventative and corrective actions and implementing continuous improvement opportunities
• Consistent and constant review of cost savings opportunities as it pertains to bulk to package opportunities
• Compile relevant information for key market raw material drivers for the purposes of arming the sales organization with solid market data/rationale pertaining to cost increases, decreases and shortages (which could lead to opportunities)
• Interact with sales/marketing to define demand plans that will be shared with suppliers in an effort to negotiate the best product cost
• Promote healthy working relationships with key vendors and develop cooperative supply chain strategies to our mutual benefit

Quality Control

• Develop or amend procedures to address recurring non-conformances (NCR's) related to supply chain and logistics issues and review on a regular basis
• Actively participate in the NCR program, leading resolution of NCR's associated with the supply chain, logistics providers or warehouse service providers

Other Responsibilities include (but not limited to)

• Understand and adhere to/follow the department procedures and policies.
• Adhere to and support the principles of Responsible Distribution.
• Understand and adhere to/follow the Azelis Americas and CASE Business Management Systems related department procedures and policies.
• Provides orientation and on-the-job training for direct reports.
• Ensure that duties, responsibilities, authority and accountability of all direct reports are defined and understood through daily interaction and the annual review process.
• Assume other activities and responsibilities from time to time as directed.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Key Strength:

• Self-motivated
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to identify priorities, make sound business decisions and take action with due urgency
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Customer centric orientation
• Well developed business and financial acumen
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills to all levels within and outside the organization
• Able to manage multiple projects and changing priorities
• Integrity and the ability to focus on the best interest of the organization
• Ability to build and maintain relationships of trust and cooperation with subordinates while being a mentor promoting their professional and personal growth
• Ability to lead a team through influence and effective conflict resolution
• Innovative, collaborative, insightful and hands-on team leader
• Ability to interact effectively at all levels of the company
• In depth working knowledge of distribution operations including warehousing and transportation
• In depth understanding and hands-on experience with ERP software in a distribution environment
• In-depth knowledge of inventory control methods in a distribution environment and a strong understanding of factors affecting manufacturer's stock availability
• Knowledge of and experience in dealing with 3rd party logistics providers, including strong negotiating abilities
• Well versed in the regulatory and physical handling requirement of chemical operations
• Experienced with budgets, forecasting, planning and general business management processes
• Understands the proper chain of command at vendors and complies with it when dealing with them
• Ability to source materials internationally
• Ability to manage employees at multiple locations

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.

Design - Generates creative solutions; Translates concepts and information into images; Uses feedback to modify designs; Demonstrates attention to detail.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Demonstrates group presentation skills and a good command presence; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Presents numerical data effectively.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals. Significant level of experience in running a chemical distribution entity desired.

Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Contributes to profits and revenue; Conserves organizational resources. Has a strong command of margin optimization opportunities within the operation.

Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience:

• Business degree with a concentration in Supply Chain or Operations Management
• Masters degree preferred
• 10+ years experience in demand planning, distribution and warehouse management, logistics and transportation, purchasing and compliance
• 25%+ travel may be required

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software; Inventory software; Order processing systems; Project Management software and Spreadsheet software.

Physical Demands:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.