Director, Purchasing

General Job Description: Purchasing Director directs the procurement and purchasing operations and strategy to provide the material and services to meet organizational requirements for quality, volume, availability, and pricing. Evaluates and develops strategic supplier relationships, negotiates contracts, and implements systems for monitoring performance, assessing risk, and responding to change in demand of disruptions in the supply chain.

Supervises: Purchasing Managers or Supervisors

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Oversee all procurement support operations including purchasing, subcontracting, project vendor management support, Tool cribs, Fabrication Shops, Facility Management, Capital Expenditures, and other Business Unit costs.
• Works to develop new process improvement concepts to increase efficiency and better team engagement.
• Signature authority for project support purchase orders, subcontracts, business unit or CapEx AIA contracts.
• Responsible for subcontract review of non-union requests, bond reviews, and redline review/negotiations.
• Maintain relationships with key staff at major suppliers in all markets.
• Work with Business Unit Managers to ensure a working understanding of ACCO’s needs in order to continually improve on Purchasing department processes and results.
• Maintain productivity KPI for Project Buyers to ensure requests are being handled in a timely manner.
• Hold regular meetings with direct reports to review all open problems, understand cost implications, and direct strategy to ensure ethical practices with our suppliers and minimum ACCO’s loss as a result of supplier actions.
• Prepare quarterly report for distribution to VP level ACCO leaders and the VP, Procurement which details open problems, summary of any issues, expected cost impacts, and recovery projections. 
• Work to manage the process of mitigating delays, properly notifying suppliers of their responsibilities from a cost perspective relative to supplier caused issues, and resolving billing disputes between ACCO and suppliers.
• Maintain an understanding of material demands and commodity markets as it relates to developing  the best cost positions possible.

Position Requirements (Skills, Work Experience, Education, etc.):

• Ability to motivate and lead a diverse and complex team.
• Demonstrates high ethical standards.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Advanced dispute resolution and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of Supply Chain Management, and the complexities of multi-tier supply chain management. 
• Has a basic understanding of subcontracting including applicable terms and requirements (insurance, indemnity, payment, etc.). 
• Track record of process management, project management, and evaluation.
• Proven ability to foster internal and external relationships.
• Proven ability to advocate and persevere on behalf of the organization.
• 10+ years of experience of leading purchasing initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Purchasing, or related field.

ACCO Competencies:

• Purchasing@ACCO: Understanding of how to work within ACCO to develop Purchasing into a resource for the company, and to prevent it from being an internal roadblock.
• Proactivity / Initiative: Recognizes what needs to be done and accomplishes it in a manner appropriate for one’s level/position and with minimal supervision.
• Perseverance: Shows the wherewithal to fight for difficult goals despite challenges and to bounce back from adversity.
• Insight: The ability to gather and make sense of information that suggests new possibilities.
• Engagement: Shows a knack for using emotion and logic to communicate a persuasive vision and connect with people.
• Teamwork: The ability to effectively work toward common goals with others by supporting, encouraging, and sharing information in an authentic and approachable manner.
• Big Picture: Understands and contributes to organizations’ short- and long-term business strategy.  On a personal level has independently developed a vision for short- and long-term career success.
• Motivation / Dedication: Commits to excellence in pursuing unselfish goals.  Initiates action with collective goals, takes responsibility and shows personal humility.
• Technical Curiosity / Willingness to Learn: Interest in seeking out new experiences, knowledge, and candid feed, back; demonstrating an openness to learn