Director of Procurement

The Director of Procurement will lead and execute all sourcing and procurement activities across the organization, with responsibility for protein, raw materials, ingredients, packaging, maintenance, repair and operations, and indirect supplies. This role is responsible for ensuring a reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality supply base that supports the company’s operational and strategic objectives.

This individual will bring deep expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier management, and supply chain optimization within a food manufacturing environment, with a strong understanding of protein markets and commodity dynamics.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage commodity markets and cost drivers, providing insights and strategies to mitigate risk and volatility
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies across protein, ingredients, packaging, MRO, and indirect supply categories
• Lead procurement of primary protein inputs (e.g., beef, pork, poultry), ensuring continuity of supply, quality, and competitive pricing
• Establish and manage supplier relationships, including negotiation of contracts, pricing, and service agreements
• Develop and maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure ability to procure best possible product at best possible price to meet customer product specifications.
• Lead the supplier qualification, evaluation, and performance management process, including scorecards and continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborate with Raw Production on methods to obtain best possible yield for protein products.
• Drive cost savings and value creation initiatives while maintaining product quality and supply reliability
• Oversee inventory strategies and supply planning alignment to optimize working capital and minimize disruption
• Implement and improve procurement systems, processes, and data analytics to enhance decision-making and visibility
• Support new product commercialization by sourcing new ingredients, packaging, and materials aligned with product specifications and timelines
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, R&D, Quality, and Finance to align sourcing strategies with business needs and product requirements
• Lead risk management and contingency planning, including dual sourcing and supply continuity strategies
• Build firm knowledge base around all raw portion item sku’s to implement and enforce quality control and tracking programs to meet food safety standards and customer product specifications.
• Ensure procurement practices comply with food safety, regulatory, and quality standards, including supplier documentation and traceability
• Know, follow and enforce all GMP’s (Good Manufacturing Practices). Help ensure a clean and safe working area.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the procurement team
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of procurement or supply chain experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within food or CPG manufacturing
• Strong experience sourcing protein, ingredients, and packaging materials
• Demonstrated success in supplier negotiations, contract management, and cost optimization
• Deep understanding of commodity markets, particularly within protein and food ingredients
• Proven ability to build and manage supplier relationships and drive performance improvements
• Experience working cross-functionally in a multi-site manufacturing environment
• Experience sourcing meat and protein products within USDA-regulated environments
• Familiarity with ERP systems and procurement tools (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Syspro)
• Experience with strategic sourcing methodologies and category management frameworks

Core Competencies, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements

Candidates should be self-starters with a strong work ethic and the ability to prioritize their workload to ensure timely issue resolution. In addition, this individual should possess the following skills:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term sourcing strategies aligned with business goals
• Negotiation: Strong negotiation and influencing skills with suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret market data and financial impacts to inform decisions
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead teams and drive results in a dynamic environment
• Communication: Clear and effective communicator across all levels of the organization
• Execution: Results-driven with strong project management and prioritization skills

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The work environment is mainly an office setting. This position requires the team member to:

• This role requires on-site presence in office and manufacturing environments as needed, with the flexibility to work remotely when responsibilities allow
• Required to sit for extended periods of time and work on a computer
• Occasionally required to visit manufacturing facilities and supplier locations
• May require occasional travel

Food Safety

All team members are responsible for adhering to food safety and quality standards. The Director of Procurement will ensure that all suppliers meet regulatory and company requirements, including USDA and SQF standards, and that appropriate documentation, traceability, and compliance measures are maintained.