A growing specialty food company is seeking an experienced and strategic Director, Global Logistics and Purchasing to lead and oversee its purchasing and logistics operations. This role is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies, managing supplier relationships, and optimizing purchasing processes to ensure product availability while driving cost savings and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in procurement best practices, inventory control, international and domestic logistics, strong negotiation skills, and a track record of success in purchasing leadership.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategy Development: Create and execute procurement strategies aligned with company goals. Identify cost-saving opportunities, evaluate market trends, and foster long-term supplier partnerships.
- Supplier Management: Support supplier selection, negotiate contracts, and evaluate supplier performance using scorecards. Drive continuous improvement through development programs.
- Purchasing Operations: Oversee end-to-end purchasing activities, including requisitions, order placement, contract management, ocean imports, and domestic logistics. Implement SOPs to streamline processes and reduce lead times.
- Cost Savings: Lead cost-reduction initiatives through vendor management and strategic sourcing. Partner with cross-functional teams to find and implement cost-effective alternatives.
- Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks related to supply chain disruptions, quality issues, and supplier stability. Establish contingency plans to ensure supply continuity.
- Team Leadership: Manage and mentor purchasing and logistics staff, fostering a high-performance, collaborative culture.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with operations, finance, and innovation teams to ensure alignment between purchasing/logistics and broader business goals.
- Executive Partnership: Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, contributing to innovation and long-term value creation
Qualifications
Required:
- 8+ years of management-level experience in purchasing and logistics
- Strong knowledge of supply chain logistics, inventory control, transportation, and demand planning
- Proven ability to lead complex projects to completion on time and within budget
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
Preferred:
- Experience with ocean imports
- Proficiency in Business Central or similar ERP
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and initiatives
- Strong analytical and KPI-driven leadership capabilities
- Expertise in business process optimization and best practices
- Change management experience and the ability to tailor leadership style to various stakeholders
- Experience identifying and developing future leadership talent
- Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus
