Our dynamic company is a family-owned distributor of fresh produce in Texas. For nearly 30 years we have lived our mission, to provide our customers with the finest, safest and highest quality produce. We strive to exceed our customers’ expectations by providing extraordinary service in a highly competitive marketplace.
Today, we buy from around the world and ship directly to our customers. Our modern cold storage, distribution center and refrigerated trucks ensure that we can deliver fresh produce, at almost any time of the day. We are a growing company with a new opportunity and are looking to hire a Director of Procurement.
The Director of Procurement will need to have at least 7 years of purchasing experience with extensive knowledge of the produce industry. The position will provide proven leadership at the manager level of procurement, as well as category management and procurement.
Texas is a great place to live, where the cost of living is amazing and there is no state income tax!! This wonderful community combines the advantages of a major metropolitan center with the ambiance and neighborly charm of a modern western town. Centrally located, you will find easy living among the most tempered climates in the U.S.
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate has 10 years of produce procurement experience, where their career has allowed them to progressively grow with greater responsibilities. They are fluent in English and Spanish. The last five years have been spent working with a produce wholesale distributor who has sales of $75MM or more. They enjoy working for a privately held company, and fully appreciate the benefits and challenges of being part of an entrepreneurial regional player versus a publicly traded corporation.
This person is a well- liked leader that has the ability to balance being a leader and part of the team. They are respected and lead by example. They love produce, the relationships and lifestyle the industry presents. They will be able to step into the Director role quickly and earn the respect of the seasoned team with their combination of knowledge and strong work ethic.
Responsibilities & Duties:
- Will manage the procurement team as well as buy and manage your own categories.
- Manage the procurement department and three skilled buyers, in their performance, establishing priorities and achieving goals.
- Manage and buy for your own categories.
- Lead the development of strategic produce procurement and category management to ensure that our inventories are correct, costs are managed, customers are happy and that we partner with our vendors.
- Develop innovative ways to continuously improve performance and processes.
- Lead procurement team in the continuous development of national procurement programs, local retailer ads and food service procurement programs.
- Forecast company produce needs and negotiate vendor programs and contracts.
- Maintain strong relationships with existing produce suppliers, and seek out new and qualified produce suppliers.
- Maintain a high level of communication and collaboration between produce procurement, key suppliers, operations and sales management in order to meet or exceed sales goals, quality, safety, and service as promised to our customers.
- Ensure product quality meets industry standards to minimize rejections and quality issues, hold suppliers accountable for quality and delivery issues.
Requirements:
- 7+ years of professional fresh produce procurement experience, such as a produce wholesaler and/or distributor.
- Experience in both retail and food service.
- Hands-on, energetic and motivated leader with a can-do attitude.
- Able to build and maintain effective, positive working relationships internally/externally with a diverse group of individuals throughout the organization and exemplify these qualities in a leadership role.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Strong leadership skills; able to inspire and motivate others to perform well.
- Willingness to share information, knowledge and experience; serve as a mentor to others.
- Forward thinker; decisive with strategic focus; able to see the big picture.
- Excellent work ethic; reliable/work flexible schedule as necessary.
- Highly organized; comfortable with multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment while using time effectively; proactive with good follow-through.
- Bi-Lingual and Bi-Literal in Spanish is highly desired but not required.
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This Job has a $2,000 Referral Reward! If you would like to discuss this job opportunity in 100% confidentiality with a Joe Produce Search Consultant, please call Jen at 855-563-7763, or email jen@joeproduce.com |
