Chief Procurement Officer
SUMMARY
The Chief Procurement Officer is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to procure all necessary ingredients, packaging, and indirect goods and services to support the business. This position involves managing supplier relationships, monitoring market trends and pricing, and ensuring high standards of quality and service.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
- Implement and execute forward-looking procurement and buying/coverage strategies to ensure long-term supply and cost certainty
- Advise senior leadership on risks identified by procurement, quality, and R&D and propose alternative solutions
- Create balanced scorecard for cost, quality, service, and people-related metrics
- Set annual productivity cost reduction plan to meet business objectives
- Support new product launches and innovation
- Establish professional relationships with senior leadership to drive the vision for direct and indirect procurement
- Review and analyze monthly purchase price variance (PPV) and regularly review the indirect procurement cost plan
- Take a hands-on approach and be willing to address business needs as required
- Develop the procurement team through coaching, on-the-job training, formal training, and career development planning
- Prioritize safety by creating and maintaining a culture of safety and ensuring a safe work environment
QUALIFICATIONS
To be successful in this role, an individual must satisfactorily perform each essential duty. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word is required, and experience in contract negotiation is preferred.
Ideal Candidate
- A self-motivated team player
- Highly organized and able to lead and organize others
- Exhibits uncompromising integrity and professionalism
- Builds relationships and enjoys collaborating cross-functionally
- Approaches business initiatives with a strategic, entrepreneurial mindset
- Communicates effectively with staff at all levels of the organization
- Excellent planning and prioritization skills, with the ability to multitask and adapt
- Thrives in a fast-paced and rapidly changing environment
- Maintains focus and direction through organizational abilities and proactive planning
- A collaborator who can reach mutually agreeable outcomes and resolve conflicts
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university; MBA preferred
A minimum of 10 years of prior experience
- Experience at a food or beverage company
- Procurement experience with agricultural commodities, packaging, and indirect procurement
- Ability to drive process improvement and system initiatives for operating efficiencies
- Experience in strategic sourcing methodology to develop category strategies, source, negotiate, and manage suppliers
- Experience in global sourcing preferred
- Ability to work independently while leading the development and growth of the procurement team
- Excellent negotiation and analytical skills with strong attention to detail