Overview
The Senior Director, Vendor Order Operations and Management is a strategic leadership role responsible for end-to-end vendor order management, supply-side operations, and forecasting across the North America supply chain. This role leads a high-performing team focused on order planning, vendor relations, and supply chain execution, ensuring product flow from vendor to customer is efficient, accurate, and aligned to business priorities. As a key cross-functional partner, this leader drives alignment across Merchandising, Finance, Technology, and Fulfillment while representing the function at the executive level.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Build and lead a high-performing team across order planning, forecasting, vendor management, and supply operations
- Set clear goals, drive accountability, and develop talent within the team
- Partner with senior leadership to attract and retain top talent
- Represent vendor order management in cross-functional and executive-level initiatives
Vendor Order Management & Relations
- Own the end-to-end vendor order lifecycle from PO creation through receipt and inventory availability
- Establish and enforce vendor compliance standards, SLAs, and performance expectations
- Lead vendor relationships and serve as the escalation point for supply disruptions and constraints
- Drive vendor performance through scorecards and ongoing reviews
Supply Operations, Inventory Planning & Forecasting
- Align purchase order volumes with demand forecasts, open-to-buy targets, and inventory goals
- Identify and resolve supply chain bottlenecks, lead time variability, and inventory imbalances
- Establish and monitor KPIs (in-stock rate, inventory turns, weeks of supply, fill rate)
- Forecast receipts and manage prioritization within budget and capacity constraints
- Coordinate and optimize product flow through distribution centers
Project Management & Strategic Initiatives
- Lead large-scale supply chain initiatives including system implementations and process improvements
- Establish structured project management practices to ensure delivery on time and within scope
- Drive continuous improvement through data, technology, and process optimization
Cross-Functional Partnership & Executive Reporting
- Serve as the primary liaison to Merchandising, Finance, Fulfillment, and Technology leadership
- Deliver executive-level reporting on supply chain performance and strategic initiatives
- Contribute to long-range planning and overall supply chain strategy
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in supply chain, inventory planning, or vendor order management
- 4+ years in a senior leadership role managing teams and complex operations
- Deep expertise in inventory planning, vendor management, and supply chain execution within retail or consumer goods
- Proven ability to lead teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders at a senior level
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a focus on continuous improvement
- Excellent communication and executive presence
- Bachelor’s degree required (Business, Supply Chain, or related field)
- Ability to travel up to ~15%