Director of Procurement- Meat Manufacturing

POSITION SUMMARY

Old World Provisions is seeking a Director of Procurement to lead the company's procurement function. The Director owns sourcing strategy across all categories - raw meat, packaging materials, ingredients, and indirect spend - and personally leads raw meat sourcing and price negotiation with major U.S. meat processors and packers. Packaging and indirect categories are executed by a dedicated buyer under the Director's direction. The role carries full accountability for supplier strategy, material cost, inventory, and continuity of supply, with total annual procurement spend of approximately.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Team Leadership and Oversight

• Set sourcing strategy for the entire procurement organization, covering raw meat as well as packaging and ingredient materials
• Direct and oversee the buyer responsible for packaging and indirect categories - the Director sets direction and controls outcomes, the buyer executes
• Hire, develop, and manage performance across the procurement team
• Own budget and cost accountability across all categories, both raw meat and non-meat
• Establish procurement process standards and own compliance with them

Raw Material - Meat Sourcing (core)

• Build and manage direct relationships with major U.S. meat processors and packers (Tyson, JBS, Cargill, Smithfield) and approved brokers
• Determine and manage the pricing structure by item - formula pricing against USDA cutout, fixed-price contracts, or spot purchasing
• Monitor CME lean hog and live cattle markets, USDA reports, and cutout trends; provide a regular raw material cost outlook to leadership
• Own raw material specifications (IMPS/NAMP), grade, trim, and yield standards; evaluate yield performance by supplier
• Identify and execute forward-buy and hedging opportunities

Inventory Management

• Own raw material inventory levels, coverage days, and turns across frozen and refrigerated stock
• Align purchasing volume with the production schedule and sales forecast
• Set and maintain buffer stock policy by item, balancing supply risk against carrying cost
• Manage cold storage relationships and inbound freight
• Work with Operations and Finance on inventory accuracy, aging, and obsolescence

Packaging, Ingredients, and Indirect Spend (oversight)

• Oversee sourcing of casings, packaging materials, spices and seasonings, and additives
• Oversee indirect procurement including MRO, supplies, equipment parts, outsourced services, and logistics and cold storage contracts
• Review and approve major contracts and price negotiations
• Oversee inventory levels and lead times for packaging and ingredient materials

Supplier Management and Quality

• Qualify, approve, and periodically audit suppliers; maintain the approved supplier list and secure backup sources for critical items
• Maintain the supplier master, conduct spend analysis, and identify savings opportunities by category
• Partner with Production and Quality to resolve material issues and manage claims
• Ensure supplier compliance with USDA, FSIS, and food safety requirements

Required

• 10+ years of procurement experience in meat or food manufacturing, including experience leading or managing a procurement team
• Hands-on raw meat sourcing experience gained at a meat processing or further-processing manufacturer, or at a packer; distribution or retail channel sourcing experience alone will not be considered
• Track record negotiating bulk commodity purchases directly with major suppliers
• Working knowledge of IMPS/NAMP specifications, grading, and yield
• Experience managing frozen and refrigerated raw material inventory and cold chain logistics
• Experience operating procurement processes within an ERP environment
• Comfortable working hands-on in a mid-sized manufacturing environment

Preferred

• Existing relationships with Tyson, JBS, Cargill, Smithfield, or comparable processors
• Experience with commodity hedging or price risk management
• Experience managing multiple categories including packaging, ingredients, and indirect spend
• Exposure to export operations or international customers

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance
• End year bonus performance base
• 401K
• Relocation support
• PTO, Sick days