Senior Procurement Analyst

Overview 

The Senior Procurement Analyst leads planning and forecasting for all Sarku Japan restaurants and owns purchasing for everything outside of food and beverage, including non-food supplies, smallwares, equipment, and services. This person turns sales and supply data into clear forecasts so the team knows what volumes are coming, can prepare for limited time offers and menu changes, and keeps restaurants in stock without carrying extra inventory. 

The role also builds and manages our supplier base for non-food categories. That means running bids, negotiating pricing and contract terms, and making sure products and services arrive on time, at the right quality, and at the right cost. The Supply Chain Manager reports to the VP of Supply Chain and works closely with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Finance, and our distribution partners. 

Essential Responsibilities 

The Supply Chain Manager is accountable for the following essential responsibilities: 

• Demand Planning & Forecasting: Build and maintain weekly and monthly volume forecasts for all restaurant locations using sales history, product mix, seasonality, holidays, and new restaurant openings. 
• Limited Time Offers & Menu Changes: Forecast volumes for limited time offers, bundles, and menu changes. Work with suppliers and distributors to plan the ramp up and sell through so launches are fully stocked and leftover product is kept to a minimum. 
• Supply & Inventory Planning: Track supplier and distributor inventory, flag stockout and overstock risks early, and work with suppliers to adjust production and shipments. 
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Pull, clean, and analyze data from sales, ordering, distributor, and supplier reports. Build clear reports and trackers that help leadership, Finance, and Operations make decisions. 
• Budget Support: Support the annual budget and forecast by projecting volumes and spend across food, beverage, and non food categories. 
• Non-Food Procurement: Lead sourcing and purchasing for non food supplies, smallwares, kitchen equipment, and services such as equipment repair and maintenance, knife sharpening, and cleaning. 
• Negotiation & Contracts: Run bids and RFPs, compare supplier proposals on total cost, negotiate pricing and terms, and manage contracts through renewal. 
• Equipment Programs: Plan and purchase equipment for new restaurants, remodels, and replacements in partnership with Operations, Development, and equipment vendors. 
• Vendor Management: Set up new vendors, track supplier performance on quality, delivery, service, and cost, and resolve supplier issues with restaurants. 
• Purchasing Policies & Compliance: Help build and enforce purchasing policies, order guides, and approval steps so purchases meet company standards and safety requirements. 
• Cost Savings: Find, track, and report cost savings, and work with Finance to confirm results. 

Qualifications 

Minimum qualifications include: 

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain planning, forecasting, or procurement, ideally in restaurants, food service, or retail. 
• Hands on experience forecasting demand and planning supply for a business with many locations. 
• Experience buying non food items such as smallwares, equipment, supplies, or services, and negotiating supplier contracts. 
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel (pivot tables, lookups, building models). Comfortable working with large sets of data. Power BI, Tableau, or SQL experience is a plus. 
• Experience with ordering, ERP, or supply chain planning systems. 
• Clear written and verbal communication, with the ability to explain numbers in plain terms to leaders, restaurant teams, and suppliers. 
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance, or a related field or equivalent experience. 

Leadership Expectations 

The Supply Chain Manager is expected to model collaborative, hands on leadership and reinforce a people-first culture. 

• Own planning results and supplier outcomes and independent follow through. 
• Build strong working relationships with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Finance, and suppliers. 
• Share information early and clearly, especially when forecasts change or supply is at risk. 
• Act with integrity in every supplier relationship and protect Sarku Japan's interests in negotiations. 
• Support and mentor analysts and support staff as the team grows. 
• Look for ways to simplify how we work and bring new ideas and tools to the team. 

Knowledge and Experience 

The role requires strong analytical and purchasing knowledge and sound business judgment across the following areas: 

• Demand forecasting, seasonality, and product mix analysis 
• Inventory planning and balancing supply across suppliers and distributors 
• Launch planning for limited time offers and menu changes 
• Strategic sourcing, bidding, and contract negotiation 
• Non-food categories including supplies, smallwares, kitchen equipment, and restaurant services 
• Total cost analysis, budgeting, and savings tracking 
• How supply decisions affect restaurant operations and the guest experience 
• Excel, data and reporting tools, and purchasing and ordering systems 

Physical Requirements 

This role requires the ability to perform office and occasional field responsibilities, including: 

• Extended periods of computer work, including working with spreadsheets and reports. 
• Sitting, standing, and walking during office work and restaurant, supplier, and distribution center visits. 
• Occasionally lifting and moving items up to 25 pounds, such as product and equipment samples. 
• Travel to restaurants, supplier facilities, distribution centers, and trade shows as needed. 

Working Conditions 

Works primarily in a ​corporate office​ environment. 

• ​​Periodic (10-20%) travel required.​ 
• Standard business hours, with some early, late, or weekend work around menu launches, new restaurant openings, and supply issues. Restaurant and distribution center visits may involve kitchen heat, noise, and cold storage areas. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Sarku Japan strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. 

Founded in 1987, Sarku Japan began with four entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to introduce Japanese teppanyaki cooking to the United States. Starting with a single location in the Liberty Tree Mall in Boston, Massachusetts, they built the company through hard work, shared responsibility, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
From the beginning, the vision was simple: serve fresh, made-to-order meals cooked directly in front of customers while delivering an experience that stood apart from traditional food court dining. Through energy, showmanship, and quality, Sarku Japan quickly built a loyal customer following.
The early years required determination, long hours, and an unwavering belief in the brand. As the company grew throughout the Northeast, Florida, Texas, and eventually across the country, the founders stayed committed to the philosophy of Kaizen — continuous improvement. That mindset continues to shape how we operate today, from refining recipes and operations to investing in our people and guest experience.
Today, Sarku Japan has grown into a nationally recognized brand with locations across the United States, including shopping centers, street-front restaurants, and military bases. While we have grown significantly since 1987, our commitment to quality, teamwork, innovation, and growth remains at the center of everything we do.