Director, Supply Chain

ECHO Incorporated is an industry leader in developing and manufacturing high-performance, professional-grade, handheld outdoor power equipment. With distributors and thousands of dealers across North and South America, ECHO is constantly anticipating the future of the outdoor power equipment industry and the need for environmental sustainability. Working for ECHO means joining a team of people who are committed to collaboration, innovation, creativity, and high-quality products that make us a globally competitive brand.

ECHO Incorporated is searching for an experienced Director of Supply Chain to champion best in class processes to support the organization's strategic initiatives and growth. This role will lead the Forecasting & Demand Planning, Sourcing, Procurement, and Production Planning teams for ECHO.

The salary range for this position is $150,000-$190,000 based on experience and qualifications.

This is a hybrid position that will offer the flexibility of working from home and on-site at our Lake Zurich facility.

ECHO’s benefits include:

• 11 paid holidays
• Extremely affordable medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid PTO
• 5% 401(k) match
• Tuition reimbursement

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Collaborate with Sales and Finance teams to create and maintain accurate company sales forecasts.
• Work closely with the Production team to establish and sustain a robust production plan that minimizes inventory and production costs while achieving company sales objectives.
• Build strong partnerships with internal departments and key customers to drive alignment and success.
• Oversee and lead ECHO's Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
• Develop strategic initiatives to enhance productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Guide and support the team through transformative changes, including potential organizational restructuring.
• Mentor and empower the supply chain operations team to foster career growth and build future capabilities.
• Demonstrate servant leadership by stepping in to perform hands-on tasks when needed.
• Partner with the VP of Operations to develop, implement, and support continuous improvement strategies.
• Drive ongoing improvements in key performance metrics, including inventory levels, supplier performance, and fill rates.
• Elevate team performance by transitioning from transactional tasks to more strategic, data-driven activities.
• Assess and reallocate spending pools to optimize supplier risk management and cost efficiency.

Job Experience/Skills: 

• Over 10 years of relevant experience in areas such as manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, quality, supply chain, logistics, and planning.
• More than 5 years of experience leading teams and managing direct reports.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to convey complex ideas clearly.
• Extensive hands-on experience in building and managing a supply chain organization, coupled with a demonstrated ability to provide vision, leadership, and strategic guidance.
• Practical application of methods and metrics to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Proven ability to leverage new and improved operations systems and tools for organizational benefits.
• Expertise in vendor management, including the development and implementation of innovative supplier agreements.
• Experience in global supply chain operations.
• Skilled in building planning, scheduling, and forecasting.
• Agile mindset, with the capacity to iterate rapidly, incorporate feedback effectively, and meet tight deadlines.
• Adaptability in maintaining effectiveness during significant changes in strategy or direction due to internal or external factors.

Additional Skills:

• Demonstrated success in the innovative creation, development, and implementation of new ideas or concepts.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo to foster growth and improvement.
• Passionate, creative, and dedicated to driving initiatives and organizational growth.
• Collaborative and influential team player.
• Experience transitioning from low yield/high repair environments to high-yield systems.
• Strong commitment to promoting and maintaining an inclusive workplace.
• Project management experience desired.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in operations management or a related field; equivalent work experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants.

E-Verification:

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Salary : $150,000 - $190,000