Expeditor Lead

Job Description

This position leads the Expeditor function to assure timely acknowledgement of Purchase Orders (goods and services) and to coordinate the movement of materials from suppliers to production/project areas so organizational requirements are met. This position provides day-to-day direction to expeditors, prioritizes workload, escalates delivery risks, and partners with internal stakeholders and suppliers to confirm deliveries are met and/or to highlight and resolve deviations from plan.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily expediting activities to guarantee timely delivery of purchased goods and services.
• Assign, prioritize, and balance workload across the expediting team based on plant/project needs, supplier performance, and risk to outage schedules.
• Monitor open orders, acknowledgements, and delivery commitments; drive proactive actions to recover late orders and realign delivery plans when delays occur.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for delivery deviations, supplier issues, and internal stakeholder concerns; communicate status, impacts, and recovery plans.
• Partner with Procurement Manager, Plant, Project Management, Receiving, and other stakeholders to ensure transparency of the purchasing process with focus on delivery dates and constraints.
• Maintain accurate and timely purchase order status comments, delivery dates, and required follow-up actions within the company ERP system; ensure team adherence to documentation standards.
• Track and report key expediting metrics (e.g., on-time delivery, past-due orders, acknowledgement cycle time) and identify trends and corrective actions.
• Coach, train, and support expeditors on processes, supplier communications, ERP usage, and customer service expectations; provide input on performance and development needs.
• Support continuous improvement efforts by standardizing work, improving communication templates, and refining escalation paths to reduce lead time variability and prevent repeat issues.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings to review material readiness, supplier performance, and schedule risk.
• Assist with onboarding of new suppliers and/or internal process changes that impact purchasing and delivery commitments.
• Other duties and projects as assigned by management.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Economics, Business Management, Supply Chain, or related field; or equivalent years of experience.
• 5+ years' experience in logistics, procurement, expediting, or related functional area, with at least 1 year of informal or formal leadership experience (preferred).
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to multi-task, prioritize, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and influence a team and cross-functional partners without losing attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) including supplier-facing and executive-ready status updates.
• Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and a customer service mindset; able to remain solution-oriented in challenging circumstances.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle company proprietary information.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and use of the Internet; ERP/MRP system experience required.
• Must be able to communicate with cross-functional teams at a level that is professional, safe, and efficient.

Physical Requirements

• The ability to work at a computer, and use repetitive motion for long periods of time
• The ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
• This position required sitting and walking.