Director of Operations – Global Supply Chain & OEM Manufacturing Full Time

Position Summary

This Director of Operations is responsible for leading end-to-end operational performance across global sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. This role oversees international supplier relationships (primarily China-based OEM partners), import/export compliance, inventory strategy, and multi-region distribution across North America and Japan. The position ensures operational scalability, cost efficiency, product quality, and on-time delivery while aligning operations with company growth objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Global Supply Chain & OEM Management

• Manage relationships with OEM manufacturers in China and APAC regions
• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, and supplier contracts
• Drive supplier performance across cost, quality, and delivery
• Lead production planning and risk mitigation strategies

Import / Export & Trade Compliance

• Oversee international logistics, freight, and customs clearance
• Ensure compliance with US, Canadian, and Japanese regulations
• Manage tariffs, duties, and landed cost models

Distribution & Fulfillment

• Lead 3PL and distribution strategies across regions
• Optimize fulfillment and inventory positioning
• Improve service levels including OTIF and cycle time

Inventory & Demand Planning

• Own Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
• Balance inventory and working capital
• Reduce stockouts and excess inventory

Operational Excellence

• Lead Lean, Kaizen, and process improvement initiatives
• Implement ERP, WMS, and EDI integrations
• Drive KPI-based performance management

Financial Management

• Manage COGS, freight, and operational budgets
• Drive cost reduction initiatives
• Track KPIs including margin, inventory turns, and delivery performance

Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Partner with Sales, Finance, and Product teams
• Support new product introductions
• Lead and develop operations teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred)
• 8–15+ years of operations leadership experience
• Experience with China-based OEM manufacturing
• Strong knowledge of global logistics and ERP systems

Success Metrics

• On-time delivery > 95%
• Improved inventory turns
• Reduced landed costs
• Scalable operational infrastructure