Director of Strategic Sourcing

CIRCOR International, Inc.; Massachusetts; Remote; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

CIRCOR International, Inc. in Warren, MA is seeking a Director of Strategic Sourcing to lead the procurement strategy for a regulated U.S. Navy business.

You will partner with executives and cross-functional teams to ensure secure, compliant, cost-effective sourcing and supply continuity across domestic and international supply bases, with emphasis on defense requirements. The role oversees supplier selection, contract negotiations, category management, market intelligence, risk management, and

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading strategic sourcing, procurement, and supply chain in complex manufacturing environments.
• Deep knowledge of supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and risk management.
• Proven ability to lead transformations and manage regulated supply chains in defense contexts.
• Experience with domestically and globally sourced components, make-vs-buy decisions, and governance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the U.S. Navy strategic sourcing strategy aligned with objectives and growth.
• Lead governance, policies, controls, and accountability for sourcing excellence.
• Direct supplier selection, contracting, and long-term supplier relationships.
• Drive category management across castings, forgings, machined components, and defense materials.
• Manage supplier risk, continuity planning, and contingency strategies.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, Buy American, cybersecurity flow-downs, and export controls.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Quality and Program Management to align sourcing with programs.
• Lead cost reduction, value engineering, and total cost of ownership improvements.

Skills

Strategic sourcing leadership

Executive leadership

Contract negotiations

Supplier risk management

Regulatory compliance

Defense industry knowledge

Financial acumen

Communication/presentation

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, Finance, or related technical discipline

Master's Degree (MBA, Engineering Management, Operations, Supply Chain, or related discipline) preferred

Job description

Job Location: Warren, MA; Monroe, NC; Tampa, FL; Remote

Description

POSITION DETAILS – Director, Strategic Sourcing

Position Summary

The Director, Strategic Sourcing is responsible for establishing and leading the strategic sourcing and procurement strategy for a highly regulated U.S. Navy business, ensuring the organization maintains a secure, compliant, cost-effective, and resilient supply base capable of supporting current and future customer requirements.

This role provides executive leadership for strategic sourcing, supplier selection, contract negotiations, category management, supply market intelligence, supplier risk management, and long-range supply chain planning. The Director serves as a key business partner to Executive Leadership, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Program Management, Finance, and Manufacturing teams to ensure sourcing strategies align with operational objectives, customer commitments, regulatory requirements, and growth initiatives.

The Director is accountable for developing sourcing strategies that support production continuity, cost competitiveness, supplier innovation, domestic sourcing objectives, capacity readiness, and compliance with U.S. Government, Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Navy, and other applicable regulatory requirements. This position plays a critical role in supporting new business opportunities, program execution, and long-term business performance.

Principal Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Develop and execute the U.S. Navy Strategic Sourcing strategy aligned with corporate objectives, customer requirements, and long-term business growth initiatives.
• Establish sourcing governance processes, policies, controls, and accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance and operational excellence.
• Serve as the executive leader responsible for strategic sourcing, category management, supplier selection, supplier contracting, and sourcing risk management.
• Develop sourcing strategies that support program execution, supply continuity, margin improvement, and organizational objectives.
• Provide executive leadership with sourcing intelligence, market trends, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations.
• Develop near-term and long-term supply base strategies that align supplier capabilities with future business requirements.
• Ensure sourcing practices support domestic content requirements, national security considerations, and customer contractual obligations.

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Lead development and execution of category strategies across castings, forgings, machined components, specialized defense materials, and key subcontract services.
• Direct sourcing activities for critical and strategic suppliers supporting U.S. Navy programs.
• Establish sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, delivery, risk, capacity, and compliance requirements.
• Lead strategic supplier negotiations, contract development, long-term agreements, and commercial relationship management activities.
• Develop supplier segmentation strategies and manage executive relationships with strategic suppliers.
• Drive competitive sourcing initiatives that improve cost competitiveness while maintaining technical and operational requirements.
• Ensure sourcing decisions support production schedules, inventory strategies, and customer delivery commitments.
• Establish governance and decision-making frameworks for make-versus-buy strategies, ensuring sourcing and manufacturing decisions align with operational objectives.

Supplier Risk Management & Supply Continuity

• Establish and maintain comprehensive sourcing risk assessment and mitigation programs.
• Lead proactive identification and mitigation of supply chain risks related to domestic sourcing limitations, sole-source dependencies, geopolitical concerns, financial instability, and capacity constraints.
• Develop sourcing contingency strategies and alternate source development plans for critical materials and components.
• Ensure business continuity planning is incorporated into sourcing strategies for key suppliers and commodities.
• Partner with Supplier Performance, Procurement, Quality, and Operations teams to improve supplier resilience and readiness.
• Oversee supplier capacity assessments and readiness planning to support forecasted demand and growth objectives.

Regulatory Compliance & Government Contracting Support

• Ensure sourcing activities comply with applicable U.S. Government contracting requirements and customer specifications.
• Support compliance with FAR, DFARS, Buy American requirements, specialty metals requirements, cybersecurity flow-down requirements, export control regulations, and other applicable defense regulations.
• Partner with Quality, Legal, Engineering, and Compliance organizations to ensure supplier compliance and qualification requirements are maintained.
• Support customer audits, regulatory reviews, and government compliance activities involving the supply base.
• Ensure sourcing documentation, supplier records, and contracting processes meet audit and regulatory requirements.

Financial & Business Performance

• Lead cost reduction and value engineering initiatives across the supply base.
• Develop sourcing strategies that improve total cost of ownership while maintaining operational performance and regulatory compliance.
• Support annual operating plans through productivity initiatives, cost savings projects, and working capital improvements.
• Drive supplier productivity, commercial excellence, and cost competitiveness initiatives.
• Establish sourcing performance metrics and reporting systems to monitor business performance and value creation.
• Evaluate market conditions and supplier economics to proactively manage cost risks and opportunities.

Cross-Functional & Organizational Leadership

• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Program Management, Manufacturing, Finance, and Quality teams to ensure sourcing strategies support business and customer requirements.
• Support new product introduction (NPI), new contract awards, product transfers, and capacity expansion initiatives.
• Lead sourcing involvement in proposal development, bid reviews, and strategic growth opportunities.
• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing Strategic Sourcing organization.
• 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, customers, and strategic suppliers.

Candidate Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Extensive experience leading strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain, category management, or operations organizations within complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong executive leadership capabilities with demonstrated success building and leading high-performing sourcing organizations.
• Deep knowledge of strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, category management, contract negotiations, and supply chain risk management.
• Strong understanding of defense industry manufacturing environments and regulated supply chains.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and long-term supplier contracts.
• Proven experience developing and executing enterprise sourcing strategies.
• Experience managing sourcing activities involving castings, forgings, machined components, engineered products, and complex manufacturing supply chains.
• Ability to influence executive leadership, customers, and strategic suppliers.
• Advanced analytical capabilities with experience leveraging market intelligence and business analytics to drive sourcing decisions.
• Strong negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills.
• Experience managing domestic and global supplier networks.
• Strong knowledge of supply continuity planning, supplier risk assessment, and compliance requirements within highly regulated industries.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational transformation and strategic change initiatives.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, Finance, or related technical discipline required.
• Master's Degree (MBA, Engineering Management, Operations, Supply Chain, or related discipline) strongly preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Operations, or related leadership roles.
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience managing managers, teams, or enterprise sourcing organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading strategic sourcing transformations and large-scale supplier management initiatives.
• Experience supporting defense, aerospace, naval, industrial, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting government contracts and regulated supply chains preferred.
• APICS/ASCM certifications, CPSM, CPM, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, CSCP, or equivalent professional certifications preferred.

Other

• U.S. Citizen

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