Position Summary
The Director of Inventory & Sourcing partners with the VP of Procurement, CPG to support Novvia CPG’s sourcing, procurement, inventory strategy, and New Product Development (NPD) functions. The role supports the development and execution of category strategies for Glass, Closures, Fiber Packaging, and Aluminum Beverage across North America, serving the broader Novvia Group organization while providing strategic support for CPG business units.
In partnership with the VP of Procurement, CPG, this leader plays a key role in developing the strategic supplier landscape, identifying, and executing cost-optimization opportunities, strengthening supplier partnerships, and supporting supply assurance across the assigned categories. Once strategies, supplier frameworks, and optimization initiatives are established, the Director is accountable for maintaining, monitoring, and continuously improving their execution, supplier performance, and alignment with business objectives.
The Director leads the day-to-day inventory strategy and policy execution for the assigned categories, partnering closely with planning, procurement, and operations teams to support working-capital performance, inventory health, demand-plan alignment, and the timely reduction of aged inventory. The role provides oversight and sourcing support for NPD initiatives, helping ensure supplier capabilities, commercial viability, and category strategy are considered throughout the development process.
This leader will operate as a strategic partner with Commercial, Planning, and Operations teams, ensuring procurement decisions support demand plans, customer commitments, and financial targets—without direct ownership of broader supply chain execution (e.g., logistics, warehousing, or fulfillment).
The Director will lead a team of 2-6 direct reports encompassing NPD and Inventory & Sourcing Specialists (Buyers). The role is responsible for building team capability, performance, and driving consistent execution across Novvia CPG and the broader Novvia organization.
Key Responsibilities
Procurement Strategy & Category Leadership
- Co-lead the development of sourcing and category strategies for Glass, Closures, Fiber Packaging, and Aluminum Beverage across North America.
- Help establish and evolve the strategic supplier landscape across Novvia CPG and the broader Novvia organization, including strategic support for Saxco.
- Conduct market, supplier, cost, and risk analysis to inform category strategy, supplier selection, cost-optimization opportunities, and supply-assurance plans.
- Co-lead working-level supplier negotiations; prepare commercial analyses, recommendations, and negotiation proposals for VP review and approval.
- Own the day-to-day execution, maintenance, monitoring, and continuous improvement of approved sourcing strategies, supplier frameworks, and optimization initiatives.
- Drive continuous improvement in sourcing, procurement, inventory-management processes, governance, tools, and reporting.
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management
- Lead sourcing and purchasing execution for assigned categories, balancing cost, availability, supplier capacity, lead times, inventory objectives, and customer requirements.
- Manage strategic supplier relationships at the working level, including pricing discussions, performance management, issue resolution, corrective-action follow-up, and ongoing relationship development.
- Own supplier scorecards, quarterly business review preparation and facilitation, supplier-performance reporting, and follow-up on agreed improvement actions.
- Identify, escalate, and support mitigation of supply risks, including supplier capacity constraints, market volatility, pricing changes, product availability, and continuity risks.
- Partner with the VP of Procurement, CPG on supplier-selection recommendations, strategic partnerships, contractual opportunities, and escalated supplier issues requiring executive review or approval.
Inventory Management & Optimization
- Lead the execution of inventory strategy and policies for the assigned categories, alignment with approved sourcing strategies and business objectives.
- Maintain stocking parameters that support product availability while managing working capital and carrying costs.
- Monitor inventory health, inventory turns, service levels, stocking performance, and excess, obsolete, or aged inventory trends.
- Develop and execute action plans to reduce aged, excess, and obsolete inventory, collaborating with Commercial, Planning, Operations, and other internal stakeholders as needed.
- Provide analysis and recommendations that support working-capital performance, inventory optimization, and category-level financial objectives.
- Lead and support Inventory & Sourcing Specialists in day-to-day purchasing, replenishment, purchase-order execution, escalation management, and compliance with policies.
New Product Development Support
- Provide leadership oversight and strategic support to the NPD Manager, who owns the day-to-day NPD process, including supplier qualification, sourcing feasibility, commercial analysis, lead-time assessment, and project execution.
- Ensure NPD activity is aligned with approved strategic supplier frameworks and long-term category objectives and that we are supporting timely and commercially viable new-product introductions.
Cross-Functional Partnership & Team Leadership
- Partner with Commercial, Planning, Operations, Finance, and other stakeholders to support sourcing, procurement, inventory, and cost-management decisions that align with customer commitments and financial targets.
- Analysis and reporting related to sourcing savings, margin impact, working-capital performance, inventory health, supplier performance, and procurement KPIs for VP and Finance review.
- Directly lead the NPD Manager and a team of 2–5 Inventory & Sourcing Specialists, including hiring, onboarding, coaching, training, performance management, capability development, succession planning, and team capacity/resource planning.
- Foster a disciplined, collaborative, and continuous-improvement-oriented team culture focused on execution, accountability, supplier performance, and inventory results.
Other duties may be assigned.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 10+ years of progressive procurement/sourcing experience
- 5+ years of people leadership experience overseeing multi-disciplinary supply chain teams
Preferred Qualifications
- BA/BS in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred
- Experience with wine or beverage industry supply chains is a strong plus
- Proficiency in Dynamics AX, Epicor, MRP systems, forecasting tools, and logistics planning preferred
- APICS/ISM certifications (CPIM, CSCP, CPSM) advantageous
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel capability
- Deep expertise in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, and supplier management
- Strong financial acumen, including cost modeling and margin impact analysis
- Advanced analytical capability (Excel, data tools) with ability to translate data into strategy
- Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Proven ability to lead through ambiguity and drive organizational alignment
Equal Employment Opportunity
Novvia Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status under applicable law.
