Director, Supply Chain

Novanta Inc.; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 172,000 - 258,000; Full time

Job summary

Novanta Inc. in Irvine, CA is seeking aDirector of Supply Chain to lead global commodity strategies, supplier relationships, and executive negotiations.

You will drive performance, risk management, and cost competitiveness while partnering with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance to support new products and long-term business objectives. The role requires 12+ years in senior supply chain leadership, strong analytical skills, and proven ability to develop high-performing teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in supply chain, procurement, strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supplier management in manufacturing/tech.
• Proven success leading executive-level supplier negotiations and long-term partnerships with measurable business value.
• Strong business acumen and analytical capabilities, with spend analytics and supplier performance management.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder influencing skills across staff to executive levels.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems, Microsoft Excel, and data-driven decision-making tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global commodity and supplier strategies for growth, continuity, risk mitigation and cost competitiveness.
• Build strategic relationships with key suppliers and act as executive sponsor and lead negotiator for major agreements.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Program Management on new product introductions and cost reduction.
• Lead supplier performance management and risk mitigation using market intelligence and analytics.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing supply chain team and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

At Novanta, our technologies power breakthrough innovations in precision medicine, medical technology, and advanced manufacturing. As Director, Supply Chain, you will lead sourcing strategy, commodity management, and supplier partnerships across our Precision Medicine business, driving supply chain performance, operational excellence, and the delivery of technologies that improve patient outcomes worldwide

In this highly visible leadership role, you'll influence business strategy, lead executive-level supplier negotiations, and build resilient sourcing solutions that enable innovation, growth, and operational excellence. You'll work alongside leaders across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Program Management while developing a high-performing team that delivers measurable business impact.

About The Team

At Novanta Precision Medicine, we're helping shape the future of healthcare. Our cutting-edge photonics, vision, motion control, and automation technologies enable life-changing medical innovations, empowering customers to push the boundaries of what's possible in diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global commodity and supplier strategies that support business growth, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and cost competitiveness.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers, serving as Novanta's executive sponsor and lead negotiator for major commercial agreements, capacity commitments, and long-term partnerships.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Program Management to support new product introductions, cost reduction initiatives, and long-term business objectives.
• Lead supplier performance management and risk mitigation activities, leveraging market intelligence, analytics, and business insights to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Develop and lead a high-performing team of supply chain professionals, fostering accountability, talent development, collaboration, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training And Competencies

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in supply chain, procurement, strategic sourcing, commodity management, or supplier management within a manufacturing or technology environment.
• Demonstrated success leading executive-level supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, and long-term supplier partnerships that deliver measurable business value.
• Strong business acumen and analytical capabilities, with expertise in strategic sourcing, commodity management, spend analytics, supplier performance management, and supply risk mitigation.
• Exceptional communication, relationship‑building, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders ranging from individual contributors to executive leadership and supplier C-suite executives.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams while collaborating across functions to achieve business objectives.
• Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems, Microsoft Excel, and data-driven decision-making tools.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a standard office or hybrid environment, including prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and computer use.
• Ability to participate in meetings, presentations, supplier visits, and business reviews.
• Ability to lift and carry light materials, including laptops, documents, and product samples, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel approximately 25-40% of the time to supplier locations and Novanta facilities.
• Travel may include executive supplier reviews, negotiations, escalations, and cross-functional collaboration activities.
• Flexibility to travel as business needs require.

Compensation And Benefits

• The base pay for this position is $172,480 to $257,900 per year depending on the geographic market.
• Novanta supports all aspects of your life's needs. This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to make your quality of life better.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy. Please call [phone] if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.