Darley is seeking a Supply Partner Director to join our team!

The Supply Partner Director will oversee the defense supply chain portfolio and lead all Category Managers and Partner Managers. The Supply Partner Team serves as the primary interface between industry partners and Darley, and the Supply Partner Director guides the strategy, development, retention, and success of our supplier network. In this position, the Director is responsible for building a high-performing team, strong supplier partnerships, and aligning category and account strategies with customer needs and business opportunities.

Reporting to the Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, the Director sets product capability priorities, assigns supplier portfolios and category ownership, and coaches managers to grow their designated accounts. The role collaborates with Sales, Contracts, Procurement, Marketing, Legal, and Compliance to connect supplier capabilities with customer needs and deliver a consistent partner experience. The ideal candidate combines strategic thinking, commercial judgment, and relationship-building skills with hands-on support for complex opportunities and key accounts.

Job Details:

This is a regular/ full-time position that operates from Darley's headquarters in Itasca, IL.  Travel may be required and up to 40% at peak times.

Compensation: $130,000-$160,000 base salary + performance incentive 

Benefits:

• PTO
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health & Wellness Reimbursement
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life & Disability insurance
• HSA with Darley contribution
• FSA
• 401K/Roth with match and profit sharing

Responsibilities:

Lead the Supply Partner Team. Direct all Partner Managers and Category Managers. Establish clear accountabilities, portfolio coverage, category ownership, and resource priorities. Coach and develop managers, assess capacity and skills, and build coordinated execution across the team.

Own planning and execution. Determine category bookings projections using historical performance and past, current, and anticipated market conditions. Partner with Category Managers, Partner Managers, and Sales to validate assumptions, assess opportunities and risks, and refine forecasts as conditions change. Translate business priorities into category strategies, supplier business plans, and clear team responsibilities. Lead regular business and account reviews, address barriers, and communicate progress, projections, key drivers, and recommended actions to leadership to support planning and resource allocation.

Drive category growth. Guide market analysis, identify emerging capabilities and underserved customer needs, and prioritize high-potential suppliers. Partner with Sales to turn category insights into qualified business opportunities.

Grow and activate supplier accounts. Direct target-account capture, supplier recruitment, due diligence, onboarding, and account development. Build actionable capture plans, pursue untapped high-potential suppliers, and move developing accounts into stronger partnership tiers.

Retain and strengthen strategic relationships. Own executive-level supplier relationships and oversee account coverage, regular meetings, site visits, and retention plans. Monitor supplier satisfaction and emerging concerns, resolve escalations, and coordinate recovery actions for at-risk relationships.

Improve commercial outcomes. Guide product selection, pricing, supplier negotiations, and deal structures with Sales and Contracts. Ensure timely review of sales opportunities, assess margin and commercial risk, and escalate exceptions.

Improve supplier quoting responsiveness. Oversee supplier bid engagement and follow-up to remove barriers to timely, competitive quotes. Ensure managers provide market intelligence, supplier recommendations, and bid guidance to Sales and Contracts.

Enable contract opportunities. Assess relevant government contracting opportunities and coordinate with Contracts and Sales. Ensure category experts contribute to proposal technical content, supplier selection, and pricing.

Deliver partner engagement. Coordinate with Marketing and Sales on Darley Days events, trade shows, supplier spotlights, sales meetings, capture materials, and Partner Advantage communications. Ensure activities strengthen partner value and create qualified business opportunities.

Maintain supplier and data discipline. Oversee supplier compliance, quality, delivery, and contractual commitments with the appropriate functions and in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 standards. Maintain accurate supplier profiles, agreements, pricing, product information, and activity records. Utilize Salesforce and monthly pipeline, bookings, invoiced-sales, and category reporting to guide decisions.

About W.S. Darley & Co:

Founded in 1908, W.S. Darley & Co. (Darley) remains a family owned and operated business, supplying the highest quality equipment solutions to its military and first responder customers. With origins in the equipment distribution and Midwest manufacturing, Darley offers a family of leading innovate emergency equipment brands and innovative solutions. Darley prides itself on delivering the highest quality solutions and services from its corporate headquarters in Itasca, IL and its’ ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing operations in Chippewa Falls, WI and Janesville, IA.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a business discipline or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of 10 years in a related professional business role.
• At least 3 years of account or supplier management experience, including strategic relationship development and commercial planning.
• At least 5 years of managerial / leadership experience supervising small teams in account management or customer service functions 
• Strong supplier relationship, negotiation, and communication skills, including the ability to build executive relationships and resolve concerns.
• Ability to develop category and account plans, evaluate pricing and commercial considerations, and use business data to guide decisions.
• Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage concurrent initiatives and collaborate across functions.  

Preferred Qualification:

• Military experience, including an understanding of defense capabilities and products.
• Government contracting or similar experience, including collaboration on bids, proposals, and supplier commitments.
• 5 or more years of account or supplier management experience.
• Experience with category strategy, market-opportunity assessment, and complex deal structures.
• Experience using Salesforce to maintain supplier activity, records, and reporting
• Experience preparing business reviews and analyzing pipeline, bookings, invoiced sales, RFQ response, retention, and satisfaction data.

Skills:

• Command presence / strong public speaking ability
• Highly organized and able to multi-task
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Team Builder
• Committed to providing exceptional customer service
• Understanding of basic business financial concepts
• Able to use Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems

AAP/EEO Statement:

Darley is an equal opportunity organization. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.