Manager, Purchasing

TITLE: Manager, Purchasing

DEPARTMENT: Procurement

REPORTS TO: Director of Procurement

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Procurement, the Purchasing Manager will play a pivotal role in advancing Thistle’s procurement and order management strategies to support the organization’s continued growth. This leader will oversee critical purchasing operations, ensuring efficient supplier management, cost optimization, and seamless collaboration across departments.

How You’ll Make a Difference

• Lead end-to-end procurement processes, including supplier research, qualification, selection, and negotiation.
• Evaluate and manage vendor performance through KPIs to secure cost-effective agreements and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Oversee the ordering process for primary food categories (Protein, Produce, Specialty Foods) and supporting materials (packaging, food prep supplies, equipment).
• Prioritize and streamline workload to optimize the efficiency of the order management process.
• Collaborate daily with Production Operations, Facilities, and the broader Procurement team to align purchasing strategies with operational needs.
• Implement sourcing goals and action plans to achieve company objectives and support scalability.
• Follow and enforce established SOPs, best practices, and work instructions while proactively recommending and implementing process improvements.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years in procurement, supply chain management, or a related field.
• Culinary knowledge and experience in high-volume fresh food production are highly desirable.
• Proven track record in raw ingredient purchasing and inventory control.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to reprioritize as needed in a dynamic production environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• Proficiency with Google Sheets, PowerPoint, and other analytical tools.
• Strong attention to detail with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Effective communicator across all levels of the organization.
• Able to work independently while fostering collaboration within a team.

Our Culture

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential values at Thistle. We know we do our best and most impactful work when we feel we are represented and belong. We're proud to actively recruit and hire talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”), including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, citizenship, national origin, color, hairstyles, hair texture, religion or religious creed, age, sex (including pregnancy), gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran or active military status, marital status, criminal record, genetics, retaliation, sexual harassment or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.