Supply Chain & Purchasing Director

Wolverine Advanced Materials, LLC; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Wolverine Advanced Materials is seeking a Supply Chain & Purchasing Director to lead the Purchasing and Estimating teams and drive global sourcing strategies across China, India, Europe, and the Americas. The role reports to the COO and shapes supplier contracts, tariff strategies, and cross-functional collaboration.

The position is primarily office-based with occasional manufacturing visits, requiring a Bachelor's degree and strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Proven ability to negotiate and manage supplier contracts through full life cycle.
• Experience sourcing in high‑volatility markets; knowledge of tariffs, import/export duties, and TIB programs.
• Direct experience managing purchasing and supplier relationships across China, India, and/or Europe.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; ability to present to leadership.
• Proficiency with spreadsheet, word processing, and standard business software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Purchasing and Estimating teams.
• Create, negotiate, and manage supplier and vendor contracts — terms, pricing, service levels, and renewal/exit provisions — in partnership with Legal and Finance.
• Chair the Procurement Committee and monitor supplier quality performance across all plant locations.
• Track tariff, trade policy, and duty developments, including Temporary Importation Bond (TIB) programs, and adjust sourcing strategy accordingly.
• Manage purchasing activity across international markets, adapting to local regulatory, logistics, and geopolitical conditions.
• Prepare market analysis to drive cost savings and quality/delivery performance goals.
• Partner cross-functionally on new product development programs.

Skills

Supplier relationship management

Negotiation

Sourcing

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Word

Job description

Wolverine Advanced Materials produces and sells performance-critical, specialty elastomer-coated metals used in gaskets for automotive & industrial applications; automotive brake noise insulators and NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) damping solutions for automotive.

Wolverine employs approximately 600 people worldwide and has manufacturing operations in Virginia, Florida, Germany, and China, as well as sales & technical offices in Michigan, Germany, Japan, China, Brazil, and India.

Wolverine Advanced Materials, an entity of Center Rock Capital, is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance materials. Our core competency is in performance-critical, specialty elastomer–coated metals that offer damping and seal-ability solutions in the automotive and gasket industries.

Center Rock Capital is a company where they see potential where others may not look; and as a team we can find the right solution to the right challenge.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Supply Chain & Purchasing Director directs the Purchasing and Estimating Departments, overseeing the sourcing of raw materials, prototypes, capital equipment, and supplies across WAM's global supply base — including operations in challenging markets such as China, India, and Europe.

What you'll do

• Lead and develop the Purchasing and Estimating teams.
• Create, negotiate, and manage supplier and vendor contracts — terms, pricing, service levels, and renewal/exit provisions — in partnership with Legal and Finance.
• Chair the Procurement Committee and monitor supplier quality performance across all plant locations.
• Track tariff, trade policy, and duty developments, including Temporary Importation Bond (TIB) programs, and adjust sourcing strategy accordingly.
• Manage purchasing activity across international markets, adapting to local regulatory, logistics, and geopolitical conditions.
• Prepare market analysis to drive cost savings and quality/delivery performance goals.
• Partner cross-functionally on new product development programs.

The above is intended to describe the general content of, and the requirements for, the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and managing commercial supplier contracts through the full contract life cycle.
• Hands‑on experience sourcing in high‑volatility markets, with working knowledge of tariffs, import/export duties, and TIB programs.
• Direct experience managing purchasing and supplier relationships across China, India, and/or Europe.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to present to leadership, clients, and customers.
• Proficiency with spreadsheet, word processing, and standard business software.

What Sets You Apart

• A creative, solutions‑oriented approach to challenging sourcing problems.
• A results‑driven mindset with a track record of hitting goals in dynamic environments.
• Strong listening skills and the ability to communicate clearly across all levels of the organization.

This role is primarily office-based, with occasional visits to manufacturing environments.

Why WAM?

Join a materials science leader with 90+ years of industry trust, a genuinely global footprint, and a team solving real engineering challenges for the automotive industry. This is an opportunity to shape sourcing strategy at a company where your work has direct, visible impact.

Salary Range:

$160,000-$200,000

Bonus and competitive benefits.

Wolverine Advanced Materials is an equal opportunity employer.