Director of Procurement- Food Industry

Job Title

· Director of Procurement

Location

· Romeoville

Department

· Supply Chain

Reporting to

· CEO

Key Accountabilities

· Great Kitchens Food Company is a leading private label pizza manufacturer, serving major retailers across North America. Known for our quality, innovation, and scalability, we specialize in crafting high-quality frozen pizzas with premium ingredients and operational excellence. Seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Procurement to lead our purchasing operations and drive cost and supply chain efficiencies.

Position Summary

· The Director of Procurement will oversee procurement strategy, purchasing, sourcing execution, and supplier performance for all key materials required in pizza manufacturing — including meats, cheese, crust/wheat, sauces, vegetables, and packaging components. This role will be responsible for ensuring cost-effective purchasing, reliable supply, and supplier compliance in support of operational and growth objectives.

Responsibilities

· Category Sourcing Leadership

Lead procurement for all direct materials used in frozen pizza manufacturing, including.

o Proteins (pepperoni, sausage, chicken)

o Dairy (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan)

o Wheat and crusts

o Vegetables

o Sauces and toppings

o Packaging (film, corrugate, shrink, paperboard)

· Cost Management & Savings

Develop and execute sourcing strategies that deliver measurable cost savings while maintaining quality and service standards. Analyze commodity trends and proactively adjust purchasing strategies.

· Supplier Management

Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships. Conduct supplier evaluations, monitor KPIs, and ensure adherence to quality, food safety, and service standards.

· Risk & Supply Assurance

Mitigate risks related to supply disruptions, quality, pricing volatility, and regulatory compliance. Develop contingency plans and maintain multi-source options.

· Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams to support new product launches, productivity initiatives, and customer programs.

· Team Development

Lead and mentor a small team of procurement professionals and buyers. Foster a high-performance, data-driven procurement culture.

· Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Food Science, or related field (MBA or CPSM a plus)
• 10+ years of progressive procurement experience in food manufacturing, with at least 3–5 years in a leadership capacity
• Experience sourcing perishable ingredients and packaging in a frozen or ready-to-eat food category
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier development skills
• Proficiency in ERP and procurement systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards)
• Understanding of regulatory and quality requirements (FDA, USDA, GFSI, SQF)

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

· Office environment

Food Safety/Quality

• Report any issues regarding food safety or quality to supervision and/or quality assurance.

· Report any risks or any evidence of unsafe or out-of-specification product, equipment, packaging or raw materials to a designated manager to enable the resolution of issues requiring immediate attention.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $100,000.00 per year

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience

• Procurement: 4 years (Required)
• Ingredients : 2 years (Required)

Ability to Commute

• Romeoville, IL 60446 (Required)

Ability to Relocate

• Romeoville, IL 60446: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person