Director, Purchasing (Restaurants)

Director Of Purchasing

We're hiring a Director of Purchasing to lead supplier strategy, contract negotiation, and purchasing optimization across our growing network of restaurant partners. This is a highly strategic role focused on driving cost efficiencies, building strong supplier relationships, and developing scalable systems that improve how restaurants source goods and services. You'll work cross-functionally to design and implement a modern, technology-enabled approach to purchasing.

What You'll Do

• Lead Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Partnerships
• Build and manage relationships with national and regional suppliers across key categories (food, beverage, disposables, services)
• Identify opportunities to improve pricing, terms, and overall supplier performance
• Develop sourcing strategies aligned with operator needs

• Negotiate High-Impact Agreements
• Lead contract negotiations with manufacturers, distributors, and service providers
• Structure pricing, rebates, and incentive programs that drive measurable savings
• Leverage aggregated demand across partners where applicable

• Build Scalable Purchasing Systems
• Design processes and frameworks that standardize purchasing across a diverse set of operators
• Create playbooks for supplier onboarding, category expansion, and contract management
• Develop reporting and performance tracking across vendors and categories

• Develop AI-Enabled Workflows
• Implement AI agents and automation tools to:
• Analyze pricing and benchmark suppliers
• Streamline sourcing and RFP workflows
• Monitor contract compliance and identify savings opportunities
• Partner with product and engineering teams to embed intelligence into purchasing operations
• Continuously improve efficiency and reduce manual overhead

• Drive Operator Value
• Deliver measurable cost savings and improved unit economics for restaurant partners
• Provide transparency into pricing, performance, and savings
• Collaborate with customer teams to align purchasing strategy with real-world operator needs

What We're Looking For

Relevant Industry Experience

• 7–15+ years in procurement, strategic sourcing, or purchasing leadership
• Experience negotiating supplier agreements at:
• Large restaurant groups (multi-unit / national scale), or
• Foodservice GPOs or purchasing organizations
• Strong understanding of foodservice supply chain dynamics

Proven Negotiator

• Track record of securing favorable pricing, rebates, and contract terms
• Deep familiarity with distributor and manufacturer economics

Systems-Oriented Builder

• Experience creating or scaling purchasing processes across multiple locations or brands
• Ability to design structured, repeatable systems in a fast-moving environment

AI / Automation Mindset

• Interest in leveraging AI and automation to scale operations efficiently
• Ability to identify opportunities for intelligent workflows and reduced manual effort

Analytical & Strategic

• Strong financial intuition and data-driven decision-making
• Comfortable working across both strategic planning and hands-on execution

Nice to Have

• Experience working with or alongside purchasing cooperatives or networks
• Exposure to restaurant technology systems (POS, inventory, AP/AR)
• Background in high-growth or tech-enabled environments