How to hire a director of sourcing

How to hire a director of sourcing, step by step

Here's a step-by-step director of sourcing hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a director of sourcing job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new director of sourcing
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a director of sourcing do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The director of sourcing hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a director of sourcing to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a director of sourcing that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of directors of sourcing.

   Type of Director Of Sourcing	Description	Hourly rate
   Director Of Sourcing	Purchasing managers plan, direct, and coordinate the buying of materials, products, or services for wholesalers, retailers, or organizations. They oversee the work of procurement-related occupations including buyers and purchasing agents.	$47-96
   Supply Manager	A supply manager or supply chain manager is a professional who supervises the import or creation of raw materials that are to be used by the company to form new products. Supply managers are required to coordinate all aspects of the supply chain to ensure that they are efficient and cost-effective... Show more	$32-65
   Material Manager	A material manager is responsible for monitoring inventories and stock supplies, ensuring the adequacy of materials needed for manufacturing or other operations, depending on the organization's industry. Material managers meet with suppliers and third-party vendors, negotiating contracts that would fit the budget goals of the company without compromising quality... Show more	$34-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Strategic Sourcing
   • Continuous Improvement
   • Project Management
   • Process Improvement
   • Logistics
   • Supplier Selection
   • Supplier Performance
   • Contract Management
   • HR
   • Apparel
   • Global Sourcing
   • Cost Reduction
   • Sigma

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Attain ISO 9002 certification in a FDA supervise GMP facility.
   • Review RFI and RFP s and award business and contracts as well as managing reverse auctions.
   • Manage transportation logistics and schedule delivery pickup to ensure inventory levels of consumer goods are maintained and program initiatives fully support.
   • Establish QC manuals and audit process for 3rd party resident inspection team in Asia.
   • Mentore organization through FDA and TUV audits, product recalls, and complaint investigations CAPA.
   • Lead national RFP responses from major global organizations, which result in new national account customers.

   More director of sourcing duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your director of sourcing job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A director of sourcing can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, directors of sourcing' average salary in kansas is 36% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level directors of sourcing 51% less than senior-level directors of sourcing.
   • Certifications. A director of sourcing with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a director of sourcing's salary.

   Average director of sourcing salary

   $140,924yearly

   $67.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level director of sourcing salary

   $99,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average director of sourcing salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$161,746	$78
   2	New Jersey	$157,588	$76
   3	Pennsylvania	$156,968	$75
   4	Massachusetts	$152,120	$73
   5	Nevada	$142,267	$68
   6	Illinois	$139,611	$67
   7	Michigan	$138,453	$67
   8	District of Columbia	$135,709	$65
   9	Washington	$130,602	$63
   10	New York	$129,460	$62
   11	Ohio	$128,435	$62
   12	Virginia	$127,500	$61
   13	North Carolina	$127,370	$61
   14	Utah	$122,420	$59
   15	Minnesota	$120,384	$58
   16	Arizona	$117,828	$57
   17	West Virginia	$116,896	$56
   18	Arkansas	$116,205	$56
   19	Colorado	$111,080	$53
   20	Texas	$110,671	$53

   Average director of sourcing salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NVIDIA	$210,999	$101.44	2
   2	Brookfield Properties	$208,973	$100.47	2
   3	Google	$194,169	$93.35	19
   4	Coach	$177,058	$85.12
   5	Microsoft	$174,336	$83.82	3
   6	Amazon	$171,257	$82.34	129
   7	Minted	$171,127	$82.27
   8	BJ's Wholesale Club	$168,714	$81.11
   9	Walmart	$167,376	$80.47	8
   10	Intuit	$163,410	$78.56	2
   11	Intel	$162,957	$78.34	7
   12	Genuine Parts	$161,336	$77.57	2
   13	Western Digital	$161,250	$77.52	56
   14	JCPenney	$159,603	$76.73	1
   15	Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital	$158,637	$76.27
   16	HERE Holding Corporation	$157,832	$75.88
   17	Skyworks Solutions	$155,169	$74.60	3
   18	Briggs & Stratton	$153,332	$73.72
   19	Huron Consulting Group	$153,105	$73.61	17
   20	Organon	$151,288	$72.73

4. Writing a director of sourcing job description

   A director of sourcing job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a director of sourcing job description:

   Director of sourcing job description example

   Exploding Kittens is a leading game and entertainment company with a mission to inspire people to connect, laugh, and play fun games in the physical world. After initially seeking to raise $10K through Kickstarter, the Exploding Kittens campaign raised $8.7M in 30 days from 219,000 backers. To date, Exploding Kittens is the #1 most-backed project in Kickstarter history and has sold over 18 million games. Started by former Xbox game designer Elan Lee and The Oatmeal's founder Matthew Inman, Exploding Kittens and its family of games seek to reshape traditional game night into an entertaining person-to-person experience. Today, there are nearly 30 games available for purchase as well as an Exploding Kittens mobile app that is one of the top 30 premium games on both iOS, Android, and the Nintendo Switch console, as well as a free-to-play app, Kitty Letter.
   
   The Director of Production oversees the team that is responsible for all physical production manufacturing, quality control, budgeting, strategizing and scheduling. This role requires active management of individual production projects as well as managing the team. Being able to negotiate production costs and work effectively with local and global factories for production is key to the role. They communicate cross-functionally between the Logistics, Accounting, Project Management Office, Art and Game Development.
   
   HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE: Develop and champion the strategic operations of the Production Department's goals that align with the company's short and long-term goals Manage individual production runs while maintaining the role of DirectorIdentify current and future risks and potential challenges to growth Create and implement a plan to manage identified risks Manage, coach, delegate, and lead Production Managers and Production Coordinators to ensure operations flow smoothly, instructions are provided accordingly, and the team is set up for success Assess and reorganize the team or functional tasks to optimize and build scale Create templates and manage production-related project management systems Develop an internal resource strategy for new and existing products Maintain, create and nurture strong relationships with manufacturers that allow the company to meet deadlines and reduce cost of goods Manage the production budget, constantly looking for solutions to optimize the production processes, and keeping budgets at or below forecast for individual projects and departmental Collaborate and serve as point of contact by attending meetings and tracking all products in development and production while improving controls that impact production Manage implementation or rollout of new processes, tools, procedures, documentation, and information systems for the department Ensure company goals are communicated and implemented in every project (cost, quality, etc)
   
   WHAT WE NEED:Excellent written and verbal communication skills Strong leadership Strong knowledge of game production or manufacturing a CPGAbility to multitask, work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment while maintaining accuracy Ability to leverage technology to build scalable processes, gain efficiencies, streamline accounting operations, and improve outcomes Demonstrated ability to form, lead and develop high-performing teams Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departmental functions Based in Los Angeles, CA
   
   WHAT WE OFFER:100% Company paid medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family Flexible spending account options (medical, dependent care, transit)401k with company matching Flexible paid vacation, Half-day Fridays, Company Paid Holidays, Mental Recharge week Learning & development allowance Monthly wellness benefit + complementary wellness subscriptions Complimentary lunches on Fridays (where we play games together!)
   
   Please apply directly at jobs.lever.co/explodingkittens. Make sure to include a PDF of your current resume along with a cover letter.
   As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer we are committed to complying with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunity to applicants and employees regardless of sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), race (including protected hairstyles such as dreadlocks, braids and twists), religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, gender (including gender identity and gender expression and/or the fact that an individual is transgender, transitioning or transitioned), color, ancestry, national origin, possession of a driver's license, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information/trait/condition, marital or familial status, family care or medical leave status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, membership in military reserves, political affiliation, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local, state and federal “ban the box” and “fair chance” laws.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find directors of sourcing for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any directors of sourcing they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level directors of sourcing with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your director of sourcing job on Zippia to find and recruit director of sourcing candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit directors of sourcing, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new director of sourcing

   Once you have selected a candidate for the director of sourcing position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new director of sourcing. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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