Director of Purchasing
Position Summary
The Director of Purchasing - Food & Packaging is responsible for leading the strategic sourcing, procurement operations, and supplier management for all food ingredients, packaging materials, and related categories supporting a national fast‑food restaurant chain. This role ensures cost‑effective supply, contract compliance, product quality, and uninterrupted availability while supporting rapid growth, product innovation, and operational efficiency across the supply chain network.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience in QSR (quick‑service restaurants), foodservice distribution, commodity management, and packaging procurement.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Category Leadership
- Develop long-term sourcing strategies for all food and packaging categories, including proteins, produce, beverages, disposables, paper goods, and branded packaging.
- Analyze market trends, commodity indices, and supplier landscapes to drive competitive advantage and risk mitigation.
- Lead RFPs, supplier business reviews, and contract negotiations focused on cost, service, quality, and sustainability.
- Implement multi‑sourcing strategies to ensure supply continuity and capacity for rapid system growth.
Supplier & Vendor Management
- Manage relationships with major food manufacturers, packaging suppliers, distributors, and 3PL partners.
- Evaluate supplier performance using KPIs such as on-time delivery, product quality, fill rates, inventory turns, and cost savings.
- Lead corrective action processes and continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers.
- Ensure all partners meet food safety, regulatory, and brand compliance standards.
Purchasing Operations & Supply Assurance
- Oversee daily procurement operations to maintain 100% supply availability to restaurant locations.
- Collaborate closely with Demand Planning and Logistics teams to optimize forecasting, replenishment, and inbound freight strategies.
- Support national promotions, limited‑time offers (LTOs), and new product rollouts with appropriate purchasing and capacity planning.
- Ensure accurate pricing, rebates, and cost structures in ERP and distribution systems.
Cross‑Functional Leadership
- Partner with Culinary/R&D, Quality Assurance, Marketing, Franchise Operations, and Finance to support menu innovation and cost modeling.
- Provide executive‑level insights on spend performance, inflation, commodity risk, and pricing impacts.
- Lead cross-departmental initiatives on sustainability, packaging reduction, and waste minimization.
Compliance & Food Safety
- Ensure all suppliers comply with food safety certifications (e.g., SQF, HACCP, FSMA).
- Maintain audit readiness and documentation for all purchased food and packaging SKUs.
- Enforce corporate and regulatory standards across the entire supplier network.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Food Science, Operations, or related field.
- 8-12+ years of progressive experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain within QSR, foodservice, or food manufacturing.
- Strong expertise in both food and packaging category management.
- Proven experience negotiating multi‑million‑dollar contracts and managing national suppliers.
- Strong analytical skills, including cost modeling and commodity forecasting.
- Proficiency in ERP systems and procurement tools (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Coupa, etc.).
- Excellent communication, presentation, and supplier‑relationship skills.
Preferred
- MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain or Business.
- Experience working with distributors (e.g., Sysco, US Foods) or QSR franchise models.
- Knowledge of sustainability initiatives in packaging, waste, or materials sourcing.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred given Miami's operational landscape.
Key Competencies
- Strategic Negotiation & Influence
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Cost Reduction & Value Engineering
- Commodity Risk Management
- Cross‑Functional Leadership
- Data‑Driven Decision Making
- Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement
- Communication & Executive Reporting
Performance Indicators
- Cost savings and year‑over‑year spend optimization
- Supplier performance metrics (OTIF, quality, service levels)
- Inventory stability and supply continuity across the restaurant system
- Successful execution of menu launches and LTOs
- Reduction in packaging costs, waste, and sustainability improvements
- Strong cross‑functional and supplier relationships
FAQs
Congratulations, we understand that taking the time to apply is a big step. When you apply, your details go directly to the consultant who is sourcing talent. Due to demand, we may not get back to all applicants that have applied. However, we always keep your resume and details on file so when we see similar roles or see skillsets that drive growth in organizations, we will always reach out to discuss opportunities.
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