Scope of Position

The Director of Procurement will lead the development and execution of procurement strategies across all key ingredient and packaging categories. This role ensures a cost-effective, reliable, and high-quality supply of materials essential to our frozen pizza manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will combine deep industry knowledge with strong leadership and analytical skills to elevate procurement performance and build long-term supplier partnerships.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Leadership

• Own procurement for all direct material categories, including proteins (pepperoni, sausage, chicken), dairy (mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan), wheat/crusts, sauces, vegetables, toppings, and packaging materials.
• Develop and execute category strategies that balance cost efficiency, quality, and innovation.

Cost Optimization & Market Intelligence

• Analyze commodity markets and identify opportunities to mitigate cost volatility.
• Deliver measurable cost savings through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and value engineering.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong supplier partnerships to ensure dependable supply, competitive pricing, and adherence to food safety and quality standards.
• Lead supplier performance reviews, manage KPIs, and oversee contracts and compliance.

Risk Mitigation & Supply Assurance

• Anticipate and manage risks related to supply disruptions, market shifts, and regulatory changes.
• Develop contingency sourcing strategies to safeguard business continuity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams to support new product launches, productivity initiatives, and customer programs.
• Contribute to innovation and commercialization efforts by aligning procurement strategies with product development timelines.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of procurement professionals and buyers.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the Supply Chain organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Food Science, or related field (MBA or CPSM certification preferred)
• 10+ years of progressive procurement experience within food manufacturing, including at least 3–5 years in a leadership role
• Proven expertise in sourcing perishable ingredients and packaging within frozen or ready-to-eat food categories
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier development capabilities
• Experience with ERP/procurement systems such as SAP, Oracle, or JD Edwards
• Solid understanding of regulatory and quality standards (FDA, USDA, GFSI, SQF)