Director of Procurement PJK

Description

Position Overview

Keany Produce & Gourmet is seeking a Director of Procurement to lead sourcing, purchasing, and vendor strategy across our produce portfolio, non-produce categories and retail programs. Operating multiple distribution facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States, Keany is a premier distributor known for quality, service, and long-standing vendor relationships.

This role is critical to ensuring product quality, supply continuity, competitive cost structure, and strong alignment with sales and operations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Procurement Leadership

• Develop and execute procurement strategies for fresh produce, select non-produce categories and retail programs - aligned with company margin, service, and growth objectives.
• Lead purchasing activities across all distribution facilities, ensuring consistency while allowing for regional market nuances.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with growers, shippers, and national suppliers.
• Oversee contract negotiations, pricing programs, and vendor performance standards.

Market Intelligence & Sourcing

• Monitor produce markets, seasonality, weather impacts, and supply trends.
• Leverage market intelligence to guide pricing strategy, promotions, and product substitutions.
• Identify new sourcing opportunities and alternative suppliers to strengthen overall offerings.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Sales, Operations, Quality Assurance, and Finance to align procurement decisions with customer needs and operational realities.
• Support sales initiatives by ensuring consistent supply, competitive cost structures, and differentiated product offerings.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to uphold food safety, traceability, and product specifications.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team.
• Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and professional development paths for procurement staff.
• Promote a culture of integrity, urgency, and continuous improvement.

Financial & Performance Management

• Manage procurement budgets, gross margin targets, and inventory risk.
• Analyze vendor performance, cost trends, and purchasing efficiencies to drive continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership with reporting and insights related to procurement performance and market conditions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement experience in a distribution environment (Produce, Specialty Products, Retail).
• Proven leadership experience managing multi-location or regional procurement operations.
• Deep understanding of produce markets, grower relationships, and seasonality.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and financial acumen.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments in a fast-paced, service-driven environment.
• Willingness to travel regularly to distribution facilities, suppliers, and growing regions.