Director of Sourcing & Procurement

About the role

The Director of Sourcing and Procurement leads the company’s domestic and global sourcing, supplier management, and procurement operations to ensure cost-effective acquisition of ingredients, packaging, raw materials, MRO, and services that meet the company’s quality, food safety, sustainability, and delivery standards. This role is a core member of the senior leadership team and reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer. The position plays a critical part in aligning sourcing strategies with the company’s business goals, product development pipeline, and operational efficiency—particularly within the premium and private-label pet food markets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive sourcing and procurement strategies aligned with company growth, profitability, and innovation objectives.
• Partner with executive leadership, R&D, and cross-functional teams to align sourcing strategies with product development, capacity planning, and operational needs.
• Contribute to senior leadership initiatives, including strategic planning, business reviews, and company-wide decision-making.
• Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team, including organizational design, talent development, and performance management.
• Identify, qualify, and manage a global supplier base; establish strategic partnerships to support innovation, quality, and supply continuity.
• Hold final decision authority for supplier selection, sourcing strategies, and major procurement contracts.
• Establish and monitor supplier performance metrics and scorecards to drive continuous improvement in quality, delivery, and sustainability.
• Own the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of procurement processes, systems, and policies to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Collaborate with Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and R&D teams to resolve supply challenges and ensure compliance with applicable food safety and regulatory standards.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, cost reduction initiatives, and key performance indicators; present results and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Analyze commodity markets, global supply risks, and economic trends to proactively mitigate disruptions and support business continuity.
• Drive cost savings through strategic sourcing, value engineering, and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements, including FDA, AAFCO, and USDA guidelines.
• Champion sustainability and responsible sourcing initiatives, including supplier compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
• Support supply chain traceability, supplier diversity, and corporate sustainability reporting initiatives.
• Ensure sourcing strategies are effectively executed to maintain service levels, prevent production disruptions, and support plant performance.
• Establish and monitor performance metrics related to cost savings, supplier performance, service levels, and team effectiveness.
• Own escalation and resolution of critical supply disruptions and supplier-related risks impacting business continuity.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the sourcing and procurement team, providing strategic guidance and day-to-day oversight.
• Carry out management responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; setting performance expectations; appraising performance; coaching and developing team members; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing employee concerns while resolving issues in a timely and effective manner.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture and ensure alignment across cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Food Science, Business Administration, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• CPSM, CPIM, or equivalent professional certification a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive sourcing, procurement, or supply chain leadership experience, preferably in food manufacturing, pet food, animal nutrition, or consumer packaged goods.
• Proven success in managing global supplier networks across ingredient and packaging categories, and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong negotiation, contract management, and cost-reduction track record in a commodity-intensive manufacturing environment.
• Experience with FSMA, FDA, and AAFCO regulatory frameworks, or equivalent food/feed manufacturing compliance environments.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, ERP systems (SAP), and digital procurement tools (e-sourcing, spend analytics platforms).
• Experience working with or within German-owned or European multinational organizations is advantageous.

Skills

• Proficient in MS Office applications, Minitab, SAP, or other ERP systems.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedural manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.
• German language speaking skills is an advantage.
• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability, statistical inference, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is required to stand, walk, sit, and talk and hear.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 15 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Products produced in this facility may contain the following allergens: Egg, Shellfish, Fish, Gluten.