Director of Purchasing

Position Summary

The Director of Purchasing leads the Procurement teams in Florida and California. The responsibilities include development, negotiation, execution and review of company contracts, and formal bids. This role establishes and interprets purchasing policies, ensuring full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the teams in Florida and California

• Lead Procurement Operations

• Responsible for all purchasing activities, including contracts, bids, RFQs/RFPs, and purchase orders, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with company policies.

• Develop Sourcing Strategy

• Responsible for the strategic sourcing plan for all ingredients, packaging materials, and other supplies. Working with the SR VP of Supply Chain will learn the fruit and juice aspects of our business.

• Supplier Management & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with all suppliers. Accountable for supplier performance, quality, service, and cost.

• Contract Negotiation

• Negotiate pricing and terms to secure favorable agreements while mitigating risk related to seasonality and market volatility.

• Market & Risk Analysis

• Monitor all supply and commodity markets, crop forecasts, weather patterns, and global supply trends and tariffs to proactively manage supply risks and pricing fluctuations.

• Quality & Compliance Alignment

• Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure all materials meet food safety standards and certifications (e.g., SQF, organic, and non-GMO), and support audit readiness and traceability. Need packaging materials to comply with all Federal and State regulations. This would include PCRC content for bottles.

• Inventory & Demand Planning Collaboration

• Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations to align purchasing with production forecasts - balancing min/max inventories, while avoiding out of stocks.

• Cost Management & Savings Initiatives

• Drive cost control strategies across the enterprise. Track spend and identify opportunities for savings without compromising quality or brand standards.

• Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Finance, Operations, Sales, R&D, and Quality to support new product development, forecasting, and business growth initiatives.

• Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the purchasing team, setting clear goals and fostering a high-performance, accountable culture.

• Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements, systems enhancements, and best practices to increase efficiency and visibility across the procurement function.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, or related field

• 8–12+ years of progressive purchasing/sourcing experience, preferably in food & beverage manufacturing.

• Experience sourcing perishable foods ingredients (fruit, juice, or agricultural commodities) highly preferred.

• Proven track record of contract negotiation and supplier management.

• Knowledge of food safety regulations and certifications (organic, non-GMO, etc.).

• Experience managing supply chain risks related to seasonality and global sourcing.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and market awareness

• Negotiation and influencing skills

• Strong analytical and financial acumen

• Relationship-building and communication

• Problem-solving in a fast-paced, perishable goods environment

• Leadership and team development

Pay

Salary Range: $175,000.00 - $200,000.00