Director, Purchasing

Director, PurchasingReily Foods Company has a passion for flavor and has been providing iconic foods and beverages that create meals and memories for over 120 years! Our products consist of New England Coffee, French Market Coffee, Luzianne Iced Tea, Blue Plate Mayonnaise, Swans Down Cake Flour, Tiger Sauce, and Carroll Shelby Chili (to name a few) and can be found in foodservice and retail locations around the country.The Director, Purchasing owns purchasing strategy, vendor negotiation, and supplier performance across a combined ~$65M annual spend portfolio inclusive of packaging (primary, secondary, tertiary), ingredients/raw materials, and co-pack/co-manufacturing partners. This role is accountable for margin protection, supply continuity, and supplier risk across these categories and serves as the senior point of contact for strategic suppliers and manufacturing partners. The Director partners with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Commercial leadership to align purchasing strategy with cost targets, product specifications, and innovation and launch timelines.Strategy & GovernanceDevelop and execute the purchasing strategy for packaging, ingredients, and co-manufacturing, aligned to margin, service, and growth objectivesOwn annual savings and cost-avoidance targets, and partner with Finance on budgets, forecasts, and standard cost impactsSegment the supplier base (strategic, preferred, transactional) and set engagement models for each tierEstablish purchasing policies, approval thresholds, and contract governance in partnership with Legal and FinancePresent spend analysis, market outlook, risk exposure, and negotiation outcomes to executive leadershipIngredientsLead negotiation of pricing, volume commitments, and terms with key ingredient/raw material suppliers, including formula or index-based pricing tied to commodity marketsSet forward-buying, contracting, and coverage strategy in response to commodity market trends and volatilityPartner with R&D and Quality on ingredient specifications, allergen management, and regulatory compliance (FDA, USDA, GFSI/SQF/BRC)Mitigate single-source and specialty ingredient risk through alternate-source qualification and business continuity planningPackagingLead negotiation of pricing and terms with packaging suppliers (resin, paperboard, glass, flexible film, closures, labels, etc.), including resin and paper index exposureDrive cost-savings initiatives through packaging redesign, light-weighting, material substitution, and supplier consolidationPartner with R&D, Marketing, and Sustainability on packaging changes tied to product redesigns, sustainability commitments, and regulatory requirementsAlign packaging supplier capacity and lead times with launch calendars and seasonal or promotional volume shiftsCo-Pack / Co-ManufacturingOwn the co-manufacturing partner strategy, including network design, partner selection, and make-vs-buy inputNegotiate co-manufacturing agreements covering pricing, minimum volume commitments, capacity reservations, and quality and performance standardsServe as executive sponsor for key co-manufacturing relationships and lead escalations involving capacity, quality, or service failuresPartner with Supply Chain Planning and Quality to align production scheduling, capacity, and audit/certification requirements (GFSI/SQF/BRC) with demand forecasts and NPD timelinesOversee onboarding and qualification of new co-manufacturing partners, including capability assessments and pilot runsMonitor co-manufacturer performance against SLAs (on-time delivery, yield, quality defect rates) and drive corrective actionManage risk related to partner capacity constraints, financial stability, and single-source production dependenciesSupplier Performance & RiskEstablish supplier scorecards and KPIs (cost, quality, on-time delivery, innovation) and lead executive business reviews with top-tier suppliers and partnersBuild and maintain supplier risk management and business continuity plans across all three categoriesEnsure compliance with ethical sourcing, sustainability, and customer or retailer-specific vendor requirementsSupport NPD and innovation pipelines by coordinating ingredient, packaging, and co-manufacturing lead times, minimums, and capacity commitmentsMaintain the contract renewal calendar aligned to production and promotional cyclesQualificationsBachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Food Science, or related field; MBA a plus8–12+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, or procurement within CPG or food & beverage, including ingredient, packaging, and/or co-manufacturing categoriesDemonstrated experience owning a spend portfolio of $25M+ and delivering measurable savingsProven track record negotiating complex, high-value supplier and co-manufacturing agreementsWorking knowledge of commodity and packaging material markets (resin, paperboard, agricultural inputs) and contract structures that manage price volatilityExperience working with co-packers or contract manufacturers, including capacity planning and quality oversightFamiliarity with food safety and regulatory compliance frameworks (FDA, USDA, GFSI/SQF/BRC)Strong financial acumen, including cost modeling, TCO, and margin impact analysisExecutive presence and ability to present to senior leadershipProficiency with ERP and procurement systems; experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) preferredExperience managing multi-site or multi-partner co-manufacturing networksExperience leading sustainable packaging initiatives (recyclable/compostable materials, light-weighting)Experience with specialty or allergen-sensitive ingredient sourcingExperience supporting NPD/innovation sourcing and scale-up productionCPSM, CIPS, or ASQ certificationStrategic negotiation at scaleCommodity and packaging market fluencyCo-manufacturer relationship and network managementCross-functional partnership (R&D, Quality, Sustainability, Finance, Supply Chain)Financial and risk analysisExecutive communicationWe offer a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package that supports the well-being, financial security, and work-life balance of our employees.10 Paid Company HolidaysGenerous Paid Vacation & Sick TimeComprehensive, Affordable Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for you and your familyHealth Savings Account (HSA) with company contributionsFlexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)401(k) Retirement Plan with company match and discretionary profit sharingEmployee Assistance Program (EAP) and financial wellness resourcesCompany?Paid DisabilityCompany?Paid Life Insurance equal to 1.5× annual compensationAnd more benefits designed to support your health, wealth, and well?beingTogether, these benefits reflect our commitment to caring for our employees both inside and outside the workplace.