VP of Purchasing - Food & Beverage
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Leadership
- Develop and execute a long‑term purchasing strategy for food, beverage, and packaging categories.
- Oversee sourcing initiatives that ensure competitive pricing, secure supply, and high-quality standards.
- Lead contract negotiations and supplier agreements, including pricing, terms, and service levels.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value engineering, and supplier innovation.
Supplier & Vendor Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers.
- Evaluate supplier performance and conduct periodic business reviews.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory requirements, sustainability goals, and ethical sourcing standards.
- Mitigate supply chain risk through proactive forecasting and contingency planning.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Operations, R&D, Quality Assurance, Finance, and Manufacturing teams to align procurement with company objectives.
- Support new product development by sourcing ingredients, packaging, and materials that meet specifications and timelines.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain, Logistics, and Inventory teams to optimize flow and reduce waste.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and mentor a high-performing purchasing team.
- Establish KPIs, procurement processes, and best practices for continuous improvement.
- Drive a culture of accountability, partnership, and strategic thinking.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Food Science, or related field; MBA preferred.
- 10+ years of procurement leadership experience, with significant exposure to food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods (CPG).
- Strong experience sourcing ingredients, beverages, packaging materials, and related supplies.
- Proven track record in contract negotiation, supplier management, and cost optimization.
- Deep understanding of food safety standards (e.g., FDA, USDA, SQF, HACCP).
- Excellent communication, analytical, and leadership skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
FAQs
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