Head of Purchasing

Our client, a leading contract manufacturer in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry, partners with some of the world’s most recognizable brands to deliver high-quality products across a range of categories. They are seeking a Head of Purchasing to lead their procurement team and play a pivotal role in the company’s continued growth and success.

This senior leadership position will oversee all purchasing activities, with a primary focus on optimizing the supply chain for materials critical to operations. This senior leadership role will oversee all purchasing activities, with primary responsibility for sourcing chemicals and regulated raw materials critical to high-volume manufacturing operations. The role requires fostering strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring cost-effective sourcing strategies, and maintaining seamless alignment with client demands and retailer expectations.

As the company is rapidly growing and plans to double in size within the next few years, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence long-term strategy and supply chain excellence. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in procurement leadership, supplier negotiations, and supply chain optimization, with a keen understanding of retail and client-driven manufacturing operations.

If you are a visionary leader with a proven track record in purchasing and supply chain management, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact in a fast-paced and growing organization.

The Head of Purchasing will be responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies across direct materials, with a particular focus on:

• Bulk chemicals (surfactants, solvents, resins, additives, soda ash, LABSA, etc.)
• Hazardous and regulated materials
• International chemical sourcing and imports
• Commodity cost management and price volatility mitigation
• Packaging materials (rigid plastics, films, corrugated, cartons) as a secondary category

This role requires a strong understanding of chemical supply markets, regulatory compliance, and supplier qualification processes, as well as the ability to protect margin and ensure supply continuity in a dynamic growth environment.

• Lead sourcing strategies for bulk chemicals and regulated raw materials
• Negotiate long-term supplier agreements and manage commodity-based pricing structures
• Monitor market trends and implement risk mitigation strategies to manage cost volatility
• Develop dual-sourcing and contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted supply
• Oversee supplier qualification, audits, and performance management
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for hazardous materials and imports
• Maintain documentation standards for chemical sourcing and transportation
• Direct procurement activities for packaging materials and production components
• Align packaging sourcing with operational production planning
• Lead and mentor the procurement team
• Develop category ownership and accountability across chemicals and packaging
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision making

• Partner with Operations, Quality, R&D, and Finance to support new product launches and formulation changes
• Support facility expansions and capacity growth initiatives
• Align procurement strategy with customer and retailer expectations

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Chemistry, or related field
• 7 - 10 years of progressive procurement experience in manufacturing environments, with 5 years in a procurement leadership role
• Demonstrated experience sourcing bulk chemicals in high-volume production
• Experience managing procurement budgets exceeding $100 million annually
• Strong expertise in supplier negotiations, cost modeling, and commodity management