The Company
Echelon Supply and Service is a leading value-added distributor of hydraulic and industrial fluid handling systems, specializing in hose products for customers in a diverse set of end markets (Defense, Oil & Gas, Food & Bev., Retail, Construction, Industrial OEMs). The business was formerly known as JGB Enterprises, which was acquired by HCI Equity Partners as a platform investment in 2018. With HCI’s support, JGB has completed three strategic acquisitions (HosePower Canada, All-Serv Industrial, Berg-Nelson) to promote geographic expansion, product expansion, and cross-selling. The business rebranded to Echelon Supply and Service in 2022, and currently has ~400 employees, 300,000 sq.ft. of operations space across 14 operating sites, 78,000+ SKUs, and ~$160M in revenue.
The Role
With the continued support of HCI, Echelon Supply and Service is seeking a VP of Supply Chain to promote growth, service, and operational excellence across planning, sourcing, procurement, supplier management, inventory management, and transportation. This leader will be responsible for instilling a metrics-driven approach to increase productivity, institutionalize supply chain processes, improve planning and inventory to optimize cost and enhance customer experience, and build a strong supply chain team.
In addition, the VP will develop and execute a comprehensive procurement strategy to improve and leverage cost structure, enhance supplier relationships, and ensure the timely availability of goods and services. Reporting to the President, the Vice President of Supply Chain is ideally based in Pasadena, TX.
Experience & Requirements
• Functional Leadership. Provide leadership for the supply chain function, including strategy development and implementation; operating plans and budgets; recruiting, staffing, and leadership development; value creation initiatives; operations policies and procedures; and communications with investors and executive leadership. Establish a reputation for excellence in supply chain management and foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and deliver distinctive and measurable financial results.
• Planning. Build best in class planning processes that effectively integrate demand, short-term and long-term capacity planning, supply planning, and inventory management capabilities. Establish and refine planning processes and performance metrics to align supply chain execution with business goals. Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure accurate forecasting, balanced inventory, and optimal service levels.
• Inventory Management. Manage inventory planning, inventory control and efficiency (turns, placement, investment), material flow, and related systems and metrics. Set and manage key customer-facing and internal performance metrics. Partner with multi-site DC/branch operations to enhance working capital positions, turns, accuracy, and E&O improvement.
• Procurement & Sourcing. Lead end-to-end procurement and sourcing across global operations. Drive cost savings, efficiency, and innovation through supplier diversification, strategic negotiations, and risk management. Oversee supplier selection and onboarding, contract execution, product quality, and purchase order accuracy. Resolve vendor issues and support product launches. Build strong vendor relationships to ensure performance, quality, and service excellence.
• System Enablement. Leverage enterprise systems to enhance visibility, streamline operations, and improve decision-making across the supply chain. Identify and implement automation opportunities to reduce manual processes, increase accuracy, and drive scalable efficiencies throughout the network. Champion the use of technology as a key enabler of operational excellence and strategic growth.
• Network Optimization. Design and refine distribution networks to enhance material flow efficiency, reduce transportation costs, and improve service levels. Leverage network modeling tools to determine optimal facility locations and transportation modes. Align network design with customer demand patterns, supplier locations, and service commitments to streamline material flows across nodes. Continuously analyze and adjust the network to support scalability, mitigate risk, and respond to shifting market dynamics.
• Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement. Champion operational excellence through the implementation of rigorous management processes, linking daily performance to broader business objectives and customer success. Foster a culture of continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional alignment to drive measurable gains in efficiency, service, and cost effectiveness.
