Job Title: Director of Procurement
About Firestone Pacific Foods
Firestone Pacific Foods (FPF) is a top-tier, efficient processor of frozen fruit that has earned a strong reputation in the market for quality and food safety. FPF has sales relationships with leading US and international food retailers and US food service companies. The company is well positioned to achieve high double-digit annual growth in the highest growth frozen fruit category sub-segments including organic, private label and blended berry products.
Agriculture Capital Fund II, an impact investment fund, acquired FPF in the fall of 2019 as part of its strategy to build out a low cost, vertically integrated supply chain of high quality, organic blueberries operating at scale to address growing global demand for this nutritious fruit. Together, FPF and Agriculture Capital seek to provide customers with product traceability back to the farm and a vehicle for creating and capturing value from Agriculture Capital’s regenerative agronomic practices.
The Firestone Family began farming in the Vancouver, WA, in 1896. We are a fully integrated grower processing operation for domestic and export fruit customers. Our fruit is harvested at the peak of ripeness, processed in our state-of-the art facility, and packed for shipment, ensuring quality in every product from the farm where it was grown to the finished bag in the consumer’s freezer.
Position Summary
The Director of Procurement is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, and inventory planning functions for Firestone Pacific Foods. This position provides leadership and oversight for the procurement of fruit, packaging, ingredients, supplies, services, and capital equipment necessary to support plant operations and business growth.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute procurement strategies that support company objectives for cost savings, operational efficiency, quality, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency.
- Lead sourcing activities for packaging materials, ingredients, PPE supplies, capital equipment, and contracted services. Must be able to skillfully execute RPF processes to success.
- Direct supplier selection, contract negotiations, pricing agreements, and performance management programs.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with, suppliers, transportation providers, and business partners.
- Collaborate with Operations, Production, Quality Assurance, Finance, Sales, and Sourcing teams.
- Develop and manage annual procurement budgets and cost-reduction initiatives.
- Establish procurement policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks through supplier diversification and contingency planning.
- Lead, develop, and mentor procurement personnel.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Agriculture, Operations Management, Finance, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive procurement, sourcing, or supply chain leadership experience.
- Minimum of 5-10 years of management experience leading procurement or supply chain teams.
- Demonstrated success negotiating complex contracts and managing strategic supplier relationships.
Skills:
- Negotiation skills
- Analytical and strategic thinking
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving ability
- Attention to detail
- Knowledge of procurement software and tools
Physical Demands/Work Environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. This is a physically demanding position. The individual must be able to walk, stand and maneuver throughout the full workday. The individual must be able to lift materials up to 20 lbs.
This position operates in a food processing production facility. The facility has loud machinery, wet floors and at times, cold temperatures.
This document describes the general nature and level of work performed by personnel assigned to this job classification. This document is not, however, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so assigned. Firestone Pacific Foods reserves the right to add, revise, or delete job duties at any time.
Firestone Pacific Foods, Inc. is both Equal Opportunity, and At Will employer. The company does not discriminate on basis of race, age, sex, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation. Either Company or Employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time for any legally permissible reason. Reasonable accommodations will be made for qualified candidates/employees with disabilities.