Head of Procurement – Direct Materials

Hitachi

. Develop and execute long-term category strategies for direct materials to drive cost savings, optimize supplier performance, and secure favorable pricing.

Posted 5/21/2026full-timePittsburgh • Pennsylvania, South Carolina • 🇺🇸 United StatesLeadWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

ERPOracle

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop and execute long-term category strategies for direct materials to drive cost savings, optimize supplier performance, and secure favorable pricing.
Align procurement strategies with engineering and design teams early on to foster supplier involvement, improve timeline efficiency, and manage risk-buy readiness.
Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), negotiate complex contract terms, and resolve supplier performance issues through root-cause analysis.
Develop "should-cost" models, monitor market intelligence, and create resiliency plans to proactively address material shortages, lead times, and single-source vulnerabilities.
Partner with operations, finance, and commercial teams to forecast material costs, manage budgets, and align category strategies with broader corporate targets.
Coach and mentor junior category managers or sourcing specialists, building departmental capability and driving succession planning.

Requirements

What you’ll need

At least 15 years of progressive experience in direct procurement, strategic sourcing, or commodity management—often within manufacturing, homebuilding, or tech industries.
Strong financial acumen with proven ability to interpret contracts, utilize should-cost analysis, and manage complex supply agreements.
Proficiency in supply chain and ERP software such as SAP, Oracle, or advanced MS Excel.
Exceptional leadership, change management, and interpersonal communication skills to effectively manage relationships with C-suite executives and external suppliers.
Desired: Member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), or Institute of Supply Management (CPSM, or CPM) or another appropriate professional institute or relevant experience.
Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Accounting, or a related field; an MBA is preferred.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive Pay
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Short & Long Term Disability
Life & Accident Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
Retirement Savings Plan
Paid Vacation
Flextime
Training and Development opportunities

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Hard Skills & Tools

direct procurementstrategic sourcingcommodity managementshould-cost analysiscontract negotiationroot-cause analysismarket intelligencebudget managementforecastingsupplier performance management

Soft Skills

leadershipchange managementinterpersonal communicationcoachingmentoringrelationship managementproblem-solvingstrategic alignmentcollaborationsuccession planning

Certifications

CIPSCPSMCPMMBA