Company Name
PAC Stainless
Search Job Title
VP of Materials
Client Profile
PAC Stainless is a privately held distributor specializing in stainless steel and specialty alloy tubing products. With four branches and approximately sixty employees, the company has been operational for about forty years, catering to the industrial sector by providing finished goods to its customers in various alloys and sizes. Headquartered in Houston, PAC Stainless is focused on maintaining its growth trajectory by transitioning into the next phase of leadership and technological advancements.
Role Objectives & Challenges
The primary objective for the VP of Materials role was to find a candidate who could seamlessly transition into the position as part of a succession plan. The previous VP of Materials, a long-term employee, was preparing for retirement, necessitating the need for an overlap period to ensure a smooth transition. The ideal candidate needed experience in the distribution sector, preferably with finished goods, and an understanding of the tubing industry would be advantageous.
The role required expertise in material procurement from both domestic and global vendors, effective contract management, and robust inventory management to ensure materials' availability across all locations. Additionally, the candidate needed to exhibit strong leadership and change management skills to drive the company's implementation of a new ERP system and automation of manual processes.
One of the significant challenges was finding a candidate who could bring best-in-class practices from larger organizations while understanding and adapting to the dynamics of a smaller company. The candidate needed to be adept at driving change and managing people through transitions effectively.
Our Approach to Solve the Search
Our search strategy was focused locally on the Houston market to find a candidate who could work closely with the retiring VP of Materials. We aimed to identify individuals with a blend of large and small company experience, particularly those with a background in distribution and material procurement.
The search began with an elevation of the role from Senior Manager to VP level after initial market feedback and internal discussions. This change generated significant interest, leading to a robust pool of candidates. We emphasized candidates' ability to manage and lead through change, their technical expertise, and their potential to fit into PAC Stainless's culture.
The Hire & Results
The search concluded successfully within three months, which is a standard timeline for a retained search. We shortlisted three strong finalists, each bringing unique strengths to the table. The selected candidate had a balanced experience in both large and small companies, had led similar transitions, and demonstrated excellent change management skills. Their local presence was an added advantage, simplifying the logistics and ensuring a smoother transition.
The new VP of Materials has since integrated well into the company, effectively learning from the retiring VP and contributing to the company's strategic growth and technological advancements. This successful placement underscores our commitment to understanding client needs and delivering tailored solutions that drive organizational success.
