Responsible for managing the Supply Chain contract process, vendor relationship and category management functions for various food, beverage and supply products; maintain continuous supply at the best possible price consistent with acceptable quality and food safety standards, quantity, and reliability of a source, including assuring the timeliness of delivery and accuracy of orders for multiple concepts.

KEY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Through the Category Management process, manages food, beverage and supply categories to minimize company food cost and reduce potential risk to the success of the organization. Strategically evaluates and manages the supplier selection process including the issuance of request for proposals and the resulting analyses of the proposals. Effectively negotiates, approves, and qualifies vendors within limits of authority. Continually ensures that strategic supplier sourcing methods, inclusive of the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of global sources of supply, are developed and implemented to support effectively evolving business requirements.

• Manages all facets of the business relationship with the supplier community. Supports product innovation by working collaboratively with Product Marketing, Research & Development, Quality Assurance, Food Safety and other departments to ensure successful cross-functional execution of new products and promotions. Identifies new suppliers that support strategic innovation; manages existing suppliers to bring innovation to their products and processes through production efficiencies, value engineering and continuous improvement to systems and costs within their organizations; manages alternative product sources and ensures standards are met across vendors. Assists with the development and documentation of supplier metrics that identify strengths and opportunities to improve performance; tracks vendor performance and identifies areas of improvement.

• Performs supply risk assessments of raw materials, production, suppliers, regulatory issues, economic and other issues to identify trends and opportunities; assesses data; creates strategic plans to improve cost and ensure supply

• Develops and provides ongoing forecasts and supply position recommendations regarding all assigned commodity categories. With supervision and in conjunction with the Purchasing Manager of Commodities, recommends futures positions and hedging strategies, if applicable. With minimal supervision, identifies and implements rational forward positions which reduce cost or minimize future cost exposure, resulting in effective cost management.

• Oversees annual ingredient cost budget and period forecast projections within assigned areas of responsibility.

• Supports Technical Services and/or R&D in the development and testing of new products and value-added products for all promotions and menu additions. Ensures new products and optimized products are successfully tested and implemented, as appropriate. Manages projects within all areas of the supply chain to achieve continual improvements in efficiency and elimination of non-value added costs. Works in coordination with Technical Services to address and resolve ongoing supply chain quality issues.

• Manages cross functional projects and relationships to ensure all appropriate projects have necessary cross-functional representation, inclusive of franchise involvement. Communicates and involves appropriate franchise and company personnel to obtain proactive input, to ensure project parameters are effectively established. Provides timely and thorough updates to appropriate franchise and company personnel to ensure ongoing project alignment and that feedback is received and acted upon as appropriate.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education - Bachelor's degree or equivalent, preferably in Business Administration, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Finance or related field.

Experience - 2 to 4 years related purchasing experience, preferably in a foodservice chain headquarters procurement organization.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Strong analytical, decision-making, negotiation, interpersonal, customer service, and oral and written English communication skills.

• Proficient knowledge of the food manufacturing/distribution industry and purchasing practices and procedures.

• Proficiency with personal computers and related software applications (Microsoft Office preferred).

Physical Requirements - Ability to speak/hear clearly in person and on the telephone. Ability to type on a computer keyboard. Ability to travel to various locations approximately 20-25% of time as business needs require. 

The range for this position is $76,600 - $106,600 and is based on an employee located at our corporate headquarters in San Diego. If the candidate is hired in a different city to work remote, we will apply a geographic pay differential based on the cost of labor in the market in which the employee resides.