The Director of Purchasing is the heartbeat of our product strategy. You’ll own the full purchasing lifecycle — from negotiating with vendors and expanding our catalog to managing your team and aligning with Sales, Finance, Marketing, and Distribution. This is a high-impact, highly visible leadership role where your decisions directly shape what our customers can offer their shoppers.
What You'll Do Lead the Purchasing Function- Set strategy and direction for all procurement operations across product categories
- Personally manage key vendor relationships and hold the team accountable for the rest
- Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and shipping agreements that keep us competitive
- Oversee purchase order creation, on-time delivery, and accurate invoicing
- Drive continuous cost savings without sacrificing quality or service
Build & Grow the Catalog- Use consumer insights, market intelligence, and sales data to identify category growth opportunities
- Lead new vendor qualification and onboarding activities
- Attend trade shows, industry conferences, and vendor events to stay ahead of market trends
- Collaborate with Sales to align the assortment with channel-specific and promotional needs
Manage Your Team- Lead, coach, and develop the purchasing team — from hiring and training to performance management
- Delegate effectively while staying close to the work that matters most
- Partner across functions to translate purchasing decisions into business outcomes
Drive Strategy & Analytics- Develop and manage the annual purchasing budget with rigorous tracking and executive reporting
- Analyze sales trends, inventory turns, fill rates, and margin performance to optimize stock levels
- Establish and monitor vendor performance KPIs
- Partner with Sales and Operations on demand forecasting to minimize overstock and stockouts
- Leverage ERP and procurement systems to streamline workflows and generate actionable reporting
- Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements (FDA, FTC, state-level) for HBC, OTC, and dietary supplement products
What We’re Looking For- 10+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, procurement, or supply chain — wholesale distribution, CPG, or related industry preferred
- 5+ years in a leadership or management role
- Experience buying HBC, cosmetics, personal care, OTC, or dietary supplement products (a big plus!)
- Proven track record of negotiating favorable vendor contracts and delivering measurable cost savings
- Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with ERP/inventory management systems
- Strong analytical and data-driven mindset
- Exceptional negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or Master’s preferred
What to Expect- Location: 100% on-site at our westside Cincinnati office
- Travel: Up to 15% domestic travel for trade shows, vendor visits, and industry events
- Team: You’ll lead a dedicated purchasing team with real support from cross-functional partners
- Legacy: Join a company with 60+ years of distributor relationships and a reputation that opens doors
If you’re a strategic thinker who loves the deal, knows the product landscape, and can lead a team with confidence — we want to hear from you.