Director, Procurement

Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Leadership
• Lead enterprise procurement and strategic sourcing initiatives across multiple spend categories supporting Bagel Brands’ multi-brand, multi-region operations.
• Own category management and supplier relationship strategies to ensure optimal cost, quality, service, and supply continuity.
• Lead complex supplier negotiations, including pricing agreements, co-development partnerships, intellectual property protections, maintenance agreements, and strategic vendor contracts.
• Monitor commodity markets, inflation trends, and supply chain risks while proactively developing mitigation strategies and cost management plans.
• Develop and maintain forecasting models, cost analyses, and reporting related to commodity pricing, usage, and Cost of Goods performance.
• Identify and implement cost savings initiatives and sourcing strategies that improve profitability while maintaining product quality and operational consistency.
• Oversee and support RFP and RFQ processes, including data analysis, supplier evaluations, strategic recommendations, and executive-level presentations.
• Maintain and communicate regular reporting related to inflation exposure, commodity trends, sourcing risks, and cost offset opportunities.
• Supplier Management & Risk Mitigation
• Lead supplier relationship management efforts to ensure strong strategic partnerships, contract compliance, operational performance, and supply reliability.
• Develop and maintain supplier performance metrics, KPIs, and business review processes to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure suppliers consistently meet food safety, quality, and specification requirements.
• Oversee supplier contract administration, documentation, and database management, including legal agreements and confidentiality documentation.
• Develop contingency and risk mitigation plans to address supply disruptions, sole-source dependencies, and changing market conditions.
• Ensure contract pricing updates and supplier-related communications are accurately maintained and distributed to distribution and operational partners.
• Cross-Functional Partnership & Business Support
• Partner collaboratively with Marketing, Culinary, Operations, Finance, Distribution, and Logistics teams to support new product launches, Limited Time Offers, and innovation initiatives.
• Support sourcing strategy and execution for new menu items, product innovations, and operational initiatives.
• Provide procurement expertise and supplier guidance related to restaurant operations, product availability, and supply chain performance.
• Align procurement strategies with broader organizational goals, operational priorities, and financial objectives.
• Participate in cross-functional planning and strategic business initiatives impacting supply chain operations and procurement activities.
• Team Leadership & Organizational Development
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing procurement team, including Category Managers and procurement professionals.
• Establish clear priorities, goals, and performance expectations aligned with enterprise objectives and procurement strategies.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement across the procurement organization.
• Support team development through coaching, mentorship, feedback, and growth opportunities.
• Promote strong cross-functional collaboration and relationship building across internal teams and external supplier partners.
• Encourage innovation, curiosity, operational excellence, and continuous learning within the team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Operations, or related field.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, or category management roles.
• Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience managing teams and developing procurement professionals.
• Experience within foodservice, restaurant, retail, hospitality, CPG, or multi-unit operational environments.
• Strong knowledge of commodity purchasing, supplier negotiations, contract management, and sourcing strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex supplier relationships and enterprise procurement initiatives.
• Experience with COGS projections and forecasting, including macro effects along with organizational and product-specific tactics and initiatives.
• Strong financial, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word.