Global Head of Purchasing

Head of Purchasing - Pittsburg, PAThe Purchasing Executive is responsible for leading the purchasing function and developing sourcing strategies that support manufacturing, cost control, supplier performance, inventory availability, and customer delivery requirements. This role oversees the purchasing department and is accountable for ensuring the business has the raw materials, components, services, and supplies needed to support production while managing cost, quality, risk, lead times, and supplier relationships.This position requires strong purchasing leadership experience, knowledge of industrial manufacturing supply chains, and preferred knowledge of the conveyor belting industry, textiles, rubber compounds, polymers, fabrics, chemicals, or similar technical materials. The role is responsible for sourcing and managing critical suppliers for compounds, textiles, rubber-related materials, production supplies, MRO, equipment, and services, including suppliers such as AirBoss, API, and other domestic or international vendors.The Purchasing Executive must understand the impact of global sourcing, international logistics, air freight, customs, tariffs, supplier capacity, lead times, and production risk. This role works closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Technical, Quality, Finance, Engineering, Sales, and plant leadership to ensure purchasing decisions support production continuity, customer commitments, quality standards, and long-term business objectives.Key ResponsibilitiesPurchasing Leadership and Department OversightStrategic Sourcing and Supplier ManagementConveyor Belting, Textile, and Compound PurchasingGlobal Sourcing, Logistics, and Supply Risk ManagementProduction and Customer Delivery SupportCost Control, Negotiation, and Financial ManagementContract, Compliance, and Risk ControlSystems, Reporting, and Process ImprovementLeadership, Communication, and Cross-Functional Collaboration Qualifications and Experience Requirements• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Engineering, Finance, or related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive purchasing, procurement, sourcing, supply chain, or materials management experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment preferred.• Minimum of 3–5 years of leadership experience overseeing buyers, purchasing staff, supply chain personnel, or similar teams preferred.• Experience purchasing for manufacturing operations, including raw materials, production supplies, MRO, services, equipment, and capital projects.• Experience with conveyor belting, rubber products, textiles, fabrics, polymers, chemicals, compounds, or similar technical/industrial materials strongly preferred.• Experience sourcing rubber compounds or related materials from suppliers such as AirBoss, API, or similar domestic and international suppliers preferred.• Strong understanding of supplier management, strategic sourcing, negotiations, purchase orders, contracts, lead times, inventory impact, and production support.• Experience with international purchasing, global logistics, air freight, ocean freight, customs, tariffs, expedited freight, and total landed cost preferred.• Experience working with ERP, purchasing, inventory, or supply chain systems required.• Experience supporting supplier quality, technical approvals, material substitutions, and cross-functional supplier issue resolution preferred.• Strong understanding of cost control, supplier risk management, production continuity, and customer delivery impact.Travel and Other Requirements• Domestic and International travel of up to 30%.• Valid driver’s license and passport without restrictions.• Ability to travel to company locations, supplier sites, customer locations, conferences, or industry events as required.• Ability to work outside normal business hours when urgent supplier, production, logistics, or customer delivery issues require support.• Must maintain professional behavior during working hours, while traveling for business, while on company or supplier sites, and at all times when representing the company.• Perform other duties as assigned to support business, purchasing, supply chain, and operational needs.