National Beverage Corp. - Vice President, Ingredient Purchasing

Location: Plantation, Florida (On-Site)

Position Summary

National Beverage Corp. is seeking a strategic, commercially driven Vice President, Ingredient Purchasing to lead the procurement, supplier management, and supply planning of all ingredients used in the production of its beverage portfolio.

This executive leadership role is responsible for developing sourcing strategies, securing reliable supply, managing commodity risk, and negotiating commercial agreements for key ingredient categories including high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), beverage concentrates, sweeteners, acids, flavors, colorants, juice ingredients, carbon dioxide, and other dry and liquid ingredients.

The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the U.S. soft drink bottling industry, ingredient supply chains, commodity markets, and beverage manufacturing operations. The successful candidate will be a proven negotiator capable of developing strong supplier relationships while ensuring competitive costs, operational excellence, and uninterrupted supply for the business.

This position is based full-time at National Beverage's headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for all beverage ingredient categories.
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify alternative suppliers to improve cost competitiveness, reduce risk, and strengthen business continuity.
• Lead requests for proposals (RFPs), supplier selection processes, contract negotiations, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Develop long-term sourcing partnerships while maintaining competitive market tension among suppliers.
• Continuously monitor ingredient markets, supplier capabilities, industry developments, and emerging sourcing opportunities.

Commodity & Market Management

• Maintain extensive knowledge of key ingredient cost drivers, including:
• High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
• Corn and sweetener markets
• Beverage concentrates
• Flavors and flavor systems
• Acids and functional ingredients
• Dry ingredient blends
• Colorants
• Juice ingredients and fruit derivatives
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• Transportation and energy inputs
• Monitor commodity market trends and forecast their impact on ingredient costs.
• Develop strategies to mitigate commodity volatility and support budget objectives.
• Manage commodity-based pricing structures, index mechanisms, escalator clauses, and cost pass-through provisions.

Contract Negotiation & Commercial Management

• Negotiate supply agreements, pricing programs, service-level requirements, inventory commitments, and business continuity protections.
• Structure agreements that optimize total delivered cost while ensuring reliable supply.
• Manage executive-level supplier relationships and commercial discussions.
• Negotiate annual and multi-year contracts that support operational requirements and financial goals.
• Ensure appropriate contract terms related to performance standards, quality requirements, claims resolution, and regulatory compliance.

Supply Planning & Forecasting

• Partner with Sales, Operations, Production, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to develop accurate ingredient demand forecasts.
• Align supplier production schedules and inventory strategies with company manufacturing plans.
• Manage ingredient capacity commitments and supply planning processes.
• Support annual budgeting, cost forecasting, long-range planning, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Monitor inventory levels and implement strategies to balance service requirements with working capital objectives.

Supplier Performance & Quality Management

• Establish supplier scorecards and performance measurement systems.
• Conduct regular supplier business reviews and strategic planning discussions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers related to service, quality, cost, and innovation.
• Lead resolution of ingredient quality concerns, shortages, supply interruptions, and corrective action programs.
• Manage claims related to quality defects, shortages, non-conformance events, freight issues, and supplier performance failures.

Transportation & Logistics Management

• Oversee inbound transportation strategies for ingredients and sweeteners.
• Collaborate with suppliers, carriers, and logistics providers to optimize freight costs and service performance.
• Develop contingency plans to mitigate transportation disruptions and supply chain risks.
• Monitor transportation KPIs and supplier shipping performance.
• Ensure effective coordination of inventory deployment and replenishment activities.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Foster a culture of accountability, analytical rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership regarding ingredient markets, supply risks, and procurement strategy.
• Work closely with Manufacturing, Quality, R&D, Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to align business objectives and procurement priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Finance, Food Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in ingredient purchasing strategic sourcing, procurement, supply chain management, or commercial leadership.
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience managing procurement, sourcing, commercial, or supply chain teams.
• Strong understanding of the U.S. soft drink bottling industry and beverage manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating large-scale ingredient supply agreements and commodity-based contracts including grain-related and or tolling agreements.
• Deep knowledge of ingredient supply chains, procurement economics, and total delivered cost management.
• Proven ability to manage supplier relationships and deliver measurable cost, service, and risk mitigation improvements.
• Strong analytical, financial, negotiation, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have experience in one or more of the following:

• Ingredient purchasing leadership within a U.S. beverage company.
• Strategic sourcing leadership supporting beverage manufacturing operations.
• Senior sales, commercial, business development, or strategy experience with an ingredient supplier, sweetener producer, ingredient distributor, flavor company, or food ingredient manufacturer.
• Direct experience sourcing and negotiating agreements for HFCS, beverage concentrates, flavors, dry ingredients, acids, colorants, sweeteners, and related beverage ingredients.
• Experience managing commodity-indexed pricing structures, cost pass-through mechanisms, and supplier risk management programs, Derivative Risk Management.
• Established industry relationships with major sweetener, ingredient, flavor, and beverage supply partners.

Key Competencies

• Ingredient Procurement Strategy
• Beverage Industry Expertise
• HFCS & Sweetener Market Knowledge
• Commodity Risk Management
• Supply Chain Planning
• Contract Negotiation
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Financial Analysis
• Transportation & Logistics Management
• Inventory Optimization
• Business Continuity Planning
• Claims Management
• Forecasting & Demand Planning
• Executive Leadership

What Success Looks Like

The Vice President, Ingredient Purchasing will ensure National Beverage maintains a secure, cost-competitive, and resilient ingredient supply chain that supports growth, operational excellence, and profitability. Success will be measured through reliable ingredient availability, effective management of commodity exposure, strong supplier partnerships, optimized total delivered cost, successful implementation of alternative sourcing strategies, and proactive leadership in an increasingly dynamic ingredient marketplace.