Director Proteins Strategic Sourcing

Director Proteins Strategic Sourcing Nashville, TN (Monday-Wednesday in office | Thursday-Friday remote) Industry: Restaurant / Foodservice (Required) Position Overview Our client is seeking a highly strategic and results-driven Director Proteins Strategic Sourcing to lead sourcing initiatives across critical food categories, including Beef, Chicken/Poultry, Pork. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing category strategies, managing supplier relationships, mitigating commodity risk, and driving value across a national restaurant operation.The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in protein procurement within a restaurant, QSR, casual dining, or foodservice environment and has demonstrated success leading sourcing teams and developing talent. This role will serve as a key business partner to Operations, Culinary, Quality Assurance, Finance, and Distribution teams to ensure uninterrupted supply, cost optimization, and product quality. Key Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Category Management Develop and execute sourcing strategies for:BeefChicken/PoultryPorkManage supplier selection, RFPs, contract negotiations, and supplier performance programs.Drive cost savings and margin improvement initiatives while maintaining quality and service standards.Monitor commodity markets and provide insights on pricing, availability, and market trends.Develop short- and long-term procurement strategies to mitigate supply disruptions and market volatility.Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and inflation planning for assigned categories. Supplier Relationship Management Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key suppliers and strategic partners.Establish supplier scorecards and KPIs related to quality, service, cost, and innovation.Identify opportunities to improve supplier performance, continuity, and product availability.Lead contract negotiations and commercial agreements to secure favorable pricing and terms. Cross-Functional Leadership Partner closely with Culinary, Marketing, Operations, Quality Assurance, and Finance teams.Support product innovation, menu changes, promotional initiatives, and new product launches.Collaborate with distribution partners to ensure service levels and inventory targets are achieved.Provide category expertise and market intelligence to senior leadership. Risk Management & Continuous Improvement Develop risk mitigation strategies related to commodity volatility, supply continuity, and capacity constraints.Evaluate alternative suppliers and sourcing models to improve flexibility and resilience.Implement process improvements, sourcing best practices, and procurement governance initiatives.Utilize data and analytics to drive strategic decision-making and identify savings opportunities. Leadership & Team Management Lead, coach, and develop a team of sourcing and procurement professionals.Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans.Foster a high-performance culture centered around collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.Mentor team members and build succession plans for critical roles. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Food Science, or related field.7+ years of progressive sourcing, procurement, or category management experience.2+ years of direct people leadership experienceRestaurant, QSR, casual dining, foodservice, or hospitality industry experience required.Proven experience managing protein categories including:BeefChicken/PoultryPorkStrong contract negotiation and supplier relationship management experience.Demonstrated success managing significant spend and delivering measurable cost savings.Experience working with commodity-driven categories and risk management strategies.Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.