GCG Automation & Factory Solutions is a value-added distributor of industrial automation products, serving complex, multi-regional customers with a large and fast-moving line card.  

We're currently seeking an experienced and highly analytical Purchasing Director to join our supply chain team and lead our 8-member purchasing team in our fast-paced distribution environment! This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who can think strategically and execute immediately. 

In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring world-class purchasing operations, building strong relationships with our roughly 300 suppliers, and developing a high-performing team. This role requires deep expertise in supply chain best practices, outstanding analytical skills, and proven ability to drive measurable improvements in efficiency, automation, and supplier performance.  The ideal candidate will have familiarity with our industrial automation product lines. 

While this role offers a remote work arrangement, the desired location for the incumbent to the role is in the midwestern U.S. (Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Michigan, Missouri) to facilitate ease of travel to our corporate facilities and to supplier facilities.  Travel requirement would range from 35% to 50%.

What you'll do

Strategic Purchasing & Supplier Management 

• Develop and implement purchasing strategies that optimize cost, quality, and service levels. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, particularly the top 6 strategic partners in order to work collaboratively on pricing, drive the delivery of updated product data more efficiently, and address discrepancies. 

• Manage obligations under supplier agreements. 

• Closely coordinate with our sales leaders to understand large upcoming project purchases that require additional project management. 

• Ensure competitive sourcing for non-strategic suppliers to mitigate risk and capture cost savings. 

• Understand and optimize our supplier pricing catalogues. 

Leadership & Team Management 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 8 across direct purchasing, stock purchasing, purchase management, invoice processing, and purchasing operations. 

• Set clear performance objectives, provide regular feedback, and coach team members to achieve professional growth. 

• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-team collaboration. 

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement 

• Institute best-in-class supply chain management processes tailored to distribution operations. 

• Drive automation of purchasing workflows and measure efficiency gains. 

• Collaborate with corporate supply chain, supplier relations, inventory/warehouse, customer service, order management, and information technology to ensure smooth operations. 

• Standardize and document purchasing procedures to ensure consistency and scalability. 

Analytics & Performance Measurement 

• Collaborating with key stakeholders, develop and maintain robust KPIs to measure purchasing effectiveness, supplier performance, and department health. 

• Produce regular reports for leadership on purchasing trends, cost savings, supplier scorecards, and process efficiency. 

• Analyze purchasing data to identify cost reduction opportunities, supplier risks, and improvement areas. 

• Develop supplier score cards to review with suppliers on a regular basis to drive continuous improvement of the supply chain. 

ERP & Systems Management 

• Leverage ERP systems (manufacturing or distribution) to optimize purchasing, inventory visibility, and supplier communications. 

• Maintain data accuracy in purchasing records, supplier information, and order tracking. 

• Partner with IT and operations to enhance ERP capabilities for purchasing functions. 

What you'll bring

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business administration, or related field; master’s degree preferred. 

• Minimum 8+ years of purchasing/supply chain experience, with at least 3 years in a senior management role. 

• Recent experience in distribution with multi-supplier procurement strongly preferred. 

• Proven track record of managing and developing high-performing purchasing teams. 

• Exceptional Excel skills (advanced formulas, pivot tables, data visualization) and strong analytical capabilities. 

• Proficiency in ERP systems for manufacturing or distribution. 

• Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and vendor management skills. 

• Demonstrated ability to implement automation and process improvement initiatives with measurable results. 

What we offer

• Competitive annual salary ranging from $165,000 to $175,000 and eligibility for our performance based bonus program
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Multiple medical plan options (CDHP and PPO) to get you the coverage you need
• Robust Financial Security: Company-paid life and disability insurance, 401(k) with company match, plus options for supplemental critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity plans
• Generous Time Off: PTO plan with paid holidays, paid parental leave, and paid compassionate care leave to support personal well-being and family needs
• Wellness & Support Programs: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), wellness incentives, and telehealth access
• Extras That Matter: Dental and vision plans, FSAs/HSAs with company contributions, pet insurance, legal services, and ID theft protection for peace of mind
• An employee-centric company that values and truly appreciates our most important asset: You!

About GCG Automation & Factory Solutions

GCG Automation & Factory Solutions is dedicated to advancing the growth of automation and factory solutions across key verticals in North America. With a comprehensive product and service offering that spans the entire automation value chain, our customers trust us as a reliable partner to meet their diverse needs. Our strength lies in our deep technical expertise and specialized knowledge of the products we offer. This enables us to support customers in deploying and delivering high-quality, efficient solutions tailored to their specific requirements. Our commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience—marked by responsiveness, reliability, and personalized service—sets us apart as the supplier of choice in the industry.

GCG is an equal opportunity employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

These duties and responsibilities listed above are judged to be "essential functions" in terms of the Americans With Disabilities Act, or ADA. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  Furthermore, the above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.