Director of Procurement and Merchandising

Company OverviewA privately held, growth-oriented distributor and manufacturer serving the foodservice and consumables market. The company offers a broad portfolio of products through a combination of strategic sourcing, purchasing, and manufacturing, with a strong focus on customer service, operational excellence, and entrepreneurial growth. Position SummaryThe Director of Merchandising & Procurement is responsible for leading product assortment strategy, sourcing, supplier management, and category performance across a diverse portfolio of products and materials. This role owns commercial results including margin, inventory productivity, supplier performance, and category growth, while leading a team of product and procurement professionals. ResponsibilitiesMerchandising & Category StrategyDevelop and manage a profitable, customer-focused product portfolio.Drive category performance through assortment optimization, pricing, inventory management, and lifecycle planning.Identify new product opportunities, market trends, and sourcing strategies to support growth.Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to align demand, inventory, and profitability objectives.Support new product development and commercialization initiatives.Procurement & Supplier ManagementLead supplier selection, negotiations, contracts, and purchasing programs.Manage RFP, RFQ, and sourcing processes to balance cost, quality, service, and risk.Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships while ensuring performance against service, quality, and cost expectations.Partner with S&OP and supply chain teams to improve forecasting, inventory levels, and supply continuity.Leadership & Team DevelopmentLead and develop a team of buyers, category managers, analysts, logistics, and compliance professionals.Establish KPIs for category profitability, supplier performance, inventory health, and cost savings.Drive accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.Qualifications10+ years of leadership experience in procurement, sourcing, merchandising, category management, or supply chain.Experience managing product portfolios, supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and inventory performance.Strong background in strategic sourcing, supplier contracting, competitive bidding, and total cost analysis.Proven success leading cross-functional teams and delivering margin improvement, cost savings, and inventory optimization initiatives.Industry experience within foodservice, packaging, disposable products, consumer goods, industrial products, or related distribution/manufacturing environments preferred.Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.Ideal Candidate ProfileCommercially minded leader with a strong merchant mentality.Skilled negotiator with exceptional supplier management capabilities.Data-driven decision maker with strong analytical and financial acumen.Effective people leader who can influence across functions and drive change in a growing organization.Comfortable balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution.Location & TravelBased at company headquarters in the New York metropolitan area.Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities, suppliers, and key business partners.If interested, please apply and a recruiter will reach out!