Supply Chain Director

CareersInFood.com; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A food manufacturing company in Downers Grove is seeking a Director of Supply Chain Management to lead all aspects of supply chain from customer service to fulfillment. The ideal candidate will have 8-12+ years of supply chain experience, particularly in food manufacturing, along with strong ERP/MRP systems knowledge. Key responsibilities include overseeing procurement, production planning, and logistics, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. A bachelor's degree is required, with an MBA preferred.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of supply chain or operations experience, with at least 5 years in food manufacturing or food contract manufacturing.
• Strong ERP/MRP experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience with sourcing strategy, demand planning, and logistics optimization.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end supply chain execution across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Finance, and Sales.
• Track and analyze KPIs for continuous improvement.

Skills

Supply chain execution

Demand planning

Logistics optimization

Team leadership

Data-driven decision-making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain

MBA (preferred)

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The Director of Supply Chain Management will be responsible for leading all aspects of the supply chain—from customer service and order entry, sourcing and procurement through production planning, warehouse management, inventory control, internal and external logistics, and fulfillment. This role requires a balance of strategic leadership and hands‑on execution. The ideal candidate is an experienced food manufacturing operations leader who thrives in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial, contract manufacturing environment and is comfortable rolling up their sleeves to ensure products are produced, shipped, and delivered on time and on budget.

Key Responsibilities

Supply Chain Strategy & Leadership

• Own end-to-end supply chain execution across multiple manufacturing sites, balancing local plant needs with enterprise‑wide scale and consistency.
• Establish and lead demand planning and S&OP processes, aligning customer demand, production capacity, inventory targets, and financial plans.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Operations, Quality, Finance, and Sales to align supply chain plans with customer demand, capacity, and cost‑to‑serve targets.
• Own ingredient and packaging sourcing strategy, including supplier selection, performance management, and cost optimization.

Operations & Execution

• Provide direct leadership across procurement, production planning, inventory management, and logistics execution.
• Oversee demand forecasting, production scheduling, and inventory management to balance service levels with working capital efficiency.
• Lead day‑to‑day logistics execution, including warehousing, external 3PL partners, and last‑mile delivery, ensuring complete and on‑time fulfillment.
• Track and analyze KPIs (OTIF, COGS, inventory turns, forecast accuracy) to drive continuous improvement.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Leverage ERP/MRP systems to drive planning accuracy, execution discipline, and accountability.
• Implement scalable supply chain processes to support growth across make‑to‑stock and make‑to‑order products.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing, execution‑focused supply chain team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data‑driven decision‑making.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of supply chain or operations experience, with at least 5 years in food manufacturing or food contract manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading supply chain operations across multiple manufacturing sites, preferred.
• Strong ERP/MRP experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with refrigerated and/or frozen ingredients and finished products.
• Familiarity with SQF/GFSI food safety standards and supplier compliance.
• Proven experience with sourcing strategy, procurement, demand planning, S&OP, inventory, and logistics optimization.
• Hands‑on, resourceful leader comfortable operating in a fast‑growing manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred).