Supply Chain Director

Director of Supply Chain & Procurement

Location: Greater Milwaukee Area

Ashton North is leading the CONFIDENTIAL search for a top-tier Director of Supply Chain & Procurement. Our client, an aggressively scaling, PE-backed manufacturing business, is on a mission to build a modern, world-class supply chain engine that delivers results. You won’t be inheriting a perfectly tuned machine. You’ll be architecting it.

This isn’t a role for caretakers. It’s for a strategic operator who thrives in high-change environments, understands how to harmonize upstream procurement during M&A rollups, and can drive cost efficiency while building resilience across the entire supply chain. If you've built from the ground up or steered transformation through acquisition chaos, this is your arena.

What You’ll Own

• End-to-end ownership of procurement and upstream supply chain strategy - sourcing, contracting, cost control, and supplier performance.
• Alignment of supply chain strategy with private equity expectations, engineering needs, and enterprise-wide growth plans.
• Leadership of supplier consolidation, make/buy analysis, and the development of vendor risk and opportunity reporting.
• Execution of 5%+ annual cost reductions across $75–$100M COGS through strategic sourcing, negotiation, and contract leverage.
• Talent assessment and team elevation - you’ll coach or upgrade as needed to build a high-functioning procurement org.
• Supply chain harmonization across acquisitions, integrating systems, suppliers, and teams without losing pace.
• Collaboration with Engineering, FP&A, Compliance, and other Operational Teams to align procurement planning with product launches, inventory turns, and budget targets.

What You Bring

• 10+ years in procurement/supply chain leadership within manufacturing electronics, embedded systems, or industrial tech.
• Deep private equity experience; you understand urgency, EBITDA impact, and what moves the needle in a leveraged environment.
• Proven track record of building or transforming supply chains through post-M&A integration and vendor optimization.
• Strategic mindset with a hands-on playbook. You’re as comfortable in the boardroom as in the manufacturing plant.
• Strong financial fluency; you know your way around cost models, margin mechanics, and supply chain KPIs.
• Clear communicator who can speak across functions, from PE partners to engineers, and bring them into alignment.
• Familiarity with federal/state contract compliance and how to build supply strategy around those guardrails.
• High standards. Low ego. You build trust fast and lead with transparency and accountability.
• Experienced with tariffs and government compliance.

What Success Looks Like

• In the first 12 months, you’ve established a proactive cadence of reporting, stabilized vendor performance, and created best in class supply chain.
• Your team runs lean, aligned, and ahead of the curve on cost, quality, and supply assurance.
• You’ve brought clarity; integrating new suppliers, negotiating favorable contracts, and driving bottom-line savings without compromising execution.
• Internal stakeholders see procurement as a strategic enabler, not a gatekeeper.

This is a high-impact role for someone who plays offense, not defense. If you’re ready to architect a smarter, faster, more resilient supply chain, Ashton North wants to hear from you.

Apply now or reach out directly. Let’s build something that lasts!