Director of Procurement

The Director of Procurement is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing the procurement function for Sunsweet Growers. Reporting to the VP of Operations, this is a strategic and cross functional role. The role oversees all global sourcing for sites located in California, Pennsylvania, and Chile, as well as sourcing for Co-Packers. Management of the procurement team will include everything from, but not limited to, developing category strategies, leading supplier relationship management (including quarterly business reviews, scorecards, etc.), negotiating contracts, executing RFPs, developing risk mitigation strategies, supporting new product development initiatives, identifying cost savings opportunities, and staying up to date on industry and market news and developing appropriate response strategies.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other related duties may be required and assigned.

• Lead the sourcing process for all ingredients, commodities, and packaging including developing suppliers, sourcing new suppliers, completing financial/quality/risk due diligence on potential suppliers, executing RFIs/RFQs/RFPs, negotiating contracts, evaluating performance, and managing overall relationships.
• Lead the development and execution of category strategies for ingredients, commodities, and packaging based on overall business strategy.
• Develop cost models for current and future ingredients/packaging with a deep understanding of cost drivers.
• Manage supplier relationships using tools such as QBRs, supplier scorecards, contract adherence, risk mitigation strategies, and supplier forecasts.
• Conduct comprehensive market research to stay informed about industry trends, market conditions and supplier landscapes.
• Support R&D and Marketing with innovation projects to ensure we source optimal components while meeting deadlines for new product launches.
• Work closely with Marketing, R&D, and Legal to align category strategies with sustainability and regulatory needs.
• Work closely with Finance to identify, forecast, track, and analyze cost savings from the categories.
• Develop and lead KPI reporting process and develop corrective actions when targets are not being achieved.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with the specific industry's procurement processes, regulations, and market trends.
• In depth knowledge of the sourcing process with strong negotiation skills.
• Strong leadership and management skills.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to align procurement activities with broader business strategies.
  
  

Ability To

• Occasional travel to other sites, including international.
• Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executives, team members, and external partners.
• Ability to adapt to changing business environments and priorities.
  
  

Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field required. Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• Extensive experience in procurement and supply chain management, with a proven track record of success.
• Experience with MRP environments. SAP preferable.
• Experience with Procurement or Supply Chain e-tools, Arkieva preferred.
  
  

Physical/Safety Requirements

• Tolerate extended periods of sitting at desk.