Interim Supply Chain & Purchasing Manager

xNorth Inc.; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 96,432 - 151,536; Part time

Job summary

xNorth Inc. in Kitchener, Ontario seeks an experienced Interim Supply Chain & Purchasing Manager to stabilize operations, strengthen procurement, and drive improvements for a North American facility. You will lead purchasing, planning, and supplier relationships to ensure material availability and production continuity.

The role requires hands-on leadership, rapid assessment, and delivery of measurable savings and process improvements within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, or Operations leadership.
• Proven experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Background in industrial machinery, automotive, engineered products, or heavy equipment preferred.
• Strong supplier negotiation and contract management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading operational improvements and managing change.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead purchasing, sourcing, materials planning, and inventory management.
• Ensure uninterrupted material supply to support production schedules.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Improve inventory accuracy, turns, and working capital.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and performance.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and supplier contracts.
• Resolve supplier delivery, quality, and capacity issues.
• Develop sourcing strategies to improve cost, quality, and service.
• Identify and deliver procurement savings opportunities.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Production Planning, Finance, and Quality.
• Improve forecasting, demand planning, and MRP.
• Monitor and improve supply chain KPIs.
• Lead, coach, and develop the purchasing and supply chain team.
• Set priorities and performance expectations.
• Foster accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conduct rapid operational assessment.
• Develop and execute short-term improvement plans.
• Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide regular progress updates to leadership.

Skills

Supply chain leadership

Negotiation

Change management

Stakeholder management

ERP/MRP experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Operations, or related

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Interim Supply Chain & Purchasing Manager

Location: Kitchener, Ontario
Contract Type: Interim Assignment
Start Date: Immediate
Duration: 6-month assignment

About the Opportunity

A leading international industrial manufacturing company is seeking an experienced Interim Supply Chain & Purchasing Manager to support one of its North American manufacturing facilities.

This is a high-impact interim assignment for a hands-on leader who can quickly stabilize supply chain operations, strengthen procurement performance, and drive operational improvements within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The Assignment

Reporting to the Plant Manager and working closely with regional and global leadership teams, you will lead the site's purchasing and supply chain activities to ensure material availability, improve supplier performance, optimize inventory, and support production continuity.

This role requires an experienced interim leader capable of rapidly assessing the current environment, implementing practical solutions, and delivering measurable business results.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain Leadership

• Lead all purchasing, sourcing, materials planning, and inventory management activities.
• Ensure uninterrupted material supply to support production schedules.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks.
• Improve inventory accuracy, inventory turns, and working capital performance.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and performance.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and supplier contracts.
• Resolve supplier delivery, quality, and capacity issues.
• Develop sourcing strategies to improve cost, quality, and service.
• Identify and deliver procurement savings opportunities.

Operations & Planning

• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Production Planning, Finance, and Quality teams.
• Improve forecasting, demand planning, and material requirements planning (MRP).
• Monitor and improve supply chain KPIs.
• Lead, coach, and develop the purchasing and supply chain team.
• Set priorities and performance expectations.
• Foster accountability and continuous improvement.
• Conduct a rapid operational assessment.
• Develop and execute short-term improvement plans.
• Drive Lean and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide regular progress updates to leadership.

Required Experience

• Minimum 10 years' experience in Supply Chain, Procurement, or Operations leadership.
• Proven experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Background in industrial machinery, automotive, engineered products, or heavy equipment is preferred.
• Strong supplier negotiation and contract management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading operational improvements and managing change.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related discipline.
• Previous interim management, turnaround, or transformation experience.
• Experience working within an international manufacturing organization.
• Operational leadership
• Strategic sourcing and procurement
• Supply chain optimization
• Inventory management
• Change management
• Strong communication and stakeholder management
• Results-oriented and hands-on leadership style

Success Measures

Within the first six months, the successful interim manager will:

• Stabilize material availability and supplier performance.
• Improve inventory control and supply chain visibility.
• Reduce production disruptions caused by supply shortages.
• Deliver measurable procurement savings and operational improvements.
• Establish a sustainable roadmap for long-term supply chain performance.