Commodity Manager

Purchasing Lexington, Kentucky


Big Ass Who?

We didn’t set out to start a fan company. We set out to solve a problem—workplace discomfort. (Sorry, HR, not your kind.) Facilities become furnaces during the summer, but businesses still expect peak performance and productivity. Without providing the basic human right of comfort, that’s just asinine. Seeing how overhead fans cooled California dairy cows begged a massive question for our founder. “Can a fan be made to revolutionize comfort for people?” he uttered.

That’s when the HVLS Fan Company was born—with the first-ever patented high-volume, low-speed fan. But that name? BOR-ing. And customers knew it. We kept getting calls asking, “Are you the guys who make those big ass fans?” Hell yeah, we are. And Big Ass Fans was born, complete with our own cheeky donkey mascot, Fanny. Today, we don’t just move air, we transform experiences. Big Ass Fans deliver comfort where it counts. We build every product like lives depend on it. Because, turns out, they do.

Our success is a result of the Big Ass Fans team’s innovation. Are you seeking an opportunity to work with extraordinary people with an entrepreneurial spirit? Do you have something that sets you apart from the rest? With a bias for action, we want you to #livelifebigass and bring the next great BAF product to market. From our customers to our employees, we are passionate about what we can accomplish together. The successful candidate will bring passion, energy, and a “get it done” mentality to BAF and the industrial business and contribute in a meaningful way to realize the company’s full potential in the market.

Opportunity

At Big Ass Fans, we’re on a mission to make the world safer, healthier, and more productive through better air movement. Behind every fan we build is a high-performing supply chain, and that’s where you come in!
 
We’re looking for a Commodity Manager who thrives on strategy, relationships, and driving results. In this role, you’ll directly power our mission by ensuring we source the right components, from the right partners, at the right time, so our industry-leading products reach customers with the quality and speed they expect.
 
Our leading products come with leading service, and that starts with exceptional sourcing. Your work will ensure our products get out the door on time, at the highest quality, and ready to make an impact.
 

What You'll Do 

  • Lead sourcing strategy across key components (motors, electronics, metals, plastics, and more). 
  • Build, evaluate, and strengthen supplier relationships—including onsite visits. 
  • Negotiate cost, lead time, and performance to drive value and reliability. 
  • Manage supplier performance, delivery, and quality issues with urgency. 
  • Identify cost savings and report sourcing impact to leadership. 
  • Partner cross-functionally to support forecasts, new product launches, and long-term planning. 
  • Mitigate risk through dual sourcing and supply continuity strategies. 

What You'll Bring

  • 4+ years of strategic sourcing or supply chain experience
  • Strong category management experience across technical commodities
  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • Proven negotiation and supplier management skills
  • Ability to work cross-functionally and drive results independently
  • Analytical mindset with strong communication and organization skills
  • High integrity, accountability, and a bias for action
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and resources to achieve goals on-time and within budget

Think you have what it takes, but your background doesn’t perfectly align with this role? No sweat! If this position gets your fan spinning, we encourage you to apply and tell us how you’ll succeed with your unique skills in your application. 

First 90 Days

Every Big Ass Fans employee is essential in working towards the company’s growth goals, and no goal is successful without a plan. When you kickstart your BAF journey with a strong 90-day plan, you’ll be set up for a great first day, week, month, quarter and beyond! Here’s a snapshot of the first 90 days as a BAF Commodity Manager:

Days 1-30:

  • Complete your onboarding activities, including a 4-day FANdamentals training to learn about our brand and products.  
  • Review current and active projects to understand team priorities and develop an execution plan. 
  • Gain a clear understanding of the supply chain structure, sourcing processes, and compliance requirements. 
  • Learn and assess open 2026 initiatives and gain visibility into planned projects for 2027 and beyond. 
  • Establish initial relationships with internal stakeholders and procurement team members. 

Days 31-60:

  • Begin contributing to active sourcing and commodity initiatives. 
  • Stabilize high‑priority categories, suppliers, and projects. 
  • Develop a consistent operating rhythm that supports short‑ and long‑term procurement performance. 
  • Identify risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities within assigned categories. 

Days 61-90+:

  • Track and achieve key performance indicators, including on‑time delivery of sourcing and category projects. 
  • Establish and strengthen key vendor relationships and communication channels. 
  • Demonstrate working knowledge of end‑to‑end supply chain processes. 
  • Build trusted relationships with internal decision‑makers and cross‑functional partners. 
  • Proactively support strategic initiatives and longer‑term sourcing objectives. 

The Interview Process:

  1. First Conversation: You'll be speaking with a BAF Recruiter! Here, you'll discuss the opportunity more in-depth and talk through any questions you may have.  
  2. Hiring Manager Interview: This will be a virtual interview with the Big Ass Fans Director of Sourcing, and you'll go through all of the in-depth details of the position, day-to-day operations and learn about the expectations of the role.  
  3. The Panel Interview: As a final step, you'll be invited onsite for an in-person interview with a team of cross departmental BAFer's and peers to present your professional background to the group and individual time to answer specific questions.  

How do you live life Big Ass?

Wonder what it’s like to walk through our Headquarters, or what benefits and perks BAFers have? Click here to learn more!

Be a part of something BIG

You’re not just a member of the Big Ass Fans team; it’s BIGGER than us. We are a Madison Industries company - one of the largest and most successful privately held companies in the world. Madison Industries has fostered and built exceptional companies that are essential to our collective health and well-being. Come join our mission to make the world healthier, safer, and more productive to build something truly remarkable!

Why haven’t you applied yet?

Big Ass Fans is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin, age, disability or veteran status. Big Ass Fans maintains an environment where each individual is valued and respected. Individuals are expected to understand and comply with OSHA and ISO 9001 standards and procedures. Individuals are expected to apply safe work methods when performing the job requirements in hazardous and non-hazardous environments to avoid injury to self to co-workers or damage to property. Individuals are expected to report unsafe work conditions or equipment operation to supervisors immediately and observe all safety rules.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may email us at [email protected] or call us at 1.877.244.3267.