Joseph Saro

Procurement & Supply Chain Leader

Des Plaines, Illinois, United States

About

With over 20 years of progressive experience in supply chain management, I bring a proven track record of driving operational excellence and delivering impactful results. My expertise spans across strategic and capacity planning, cost optimization, procurement and sourcing, including offshore operations. I’ve successfully led global teams, managed over 140 suppliers worldwide, and utilized advanced MIS/ERP tools to streamline processes and enhance efficiency. I excel at building high-performing teams, fostering collaboration, and delivering innovative solutions to complex business challenges. Passionate about operational excellence, I am dedicated to driving growth and creating value through strategic supply chain initiatives.

Experience

  • Director/Head of Procurement and Global Supply Chain at RapidAir Products
    May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Head of Supply Planning/Vendor Management at Weber Inc.
    Jan 2023 - May 2025 · 2 yrs 5 mos

  • Senior Manager Capacity Planning at Tyson Foods
    May 2021 - Mar 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Sr. Manager-Capacity Planning at WestRock at WestRock Company
    Jan 2010 - May 2021 · 11 yrs 5 mos

  • Manager-Print Marketing Solutions at Williams Lea
    Sep 2008 - Dec 2009 · 1 yr 4 mos

    Managed a team of Account Executives (SAE's, and AE's) who were responsible for the procurement (P2P) of K-12th grade textbooks, instructional technology, assessments, and other educational materials for teachers and students. • Reduced HMH’s print spend in the various areas. Workbooks-21% savings with a spend of $4,650,980, Media-31% savings with a spend of $947,983, TE’s-13% savings with a spend of $895,777, PE’s-15% savings with a spend of $1,703,958. Total Savings of $1,705,273 from previous year. • Worked directly with suppliers to ensure contractual negotiations/service agreements are met. • Trained, guided, and supported direct reports to ensure all savings targets are met. • Managed a ten million dollar budget on print procurement.