National Beverage Corp. - Vice President, Packaging Purchasing

Location: Plantation, Florida (On site Monday through Friday)

Position Summary

National Beverage is seeking a highly accomplished Vice President, Packaging Purchasing to lead the strategic sourcing, procurement, supply planning, and supplier management of all packaging materials supporting our portfolio of beverage brands across North America.

This executive leadership role is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for aluminum cans, aluminum ends, paperboard packaging, labels, films, corrugated materials, plastic packaging, resins, and related packaging components. The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of packaging markets, commodity cost drivers, manufacturing processes, supply chain dynamics, and commercial contracting.

The VP will serve as a key member of the leadership team, partnering closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Logistics, Finance, and Sales Planning to ensure security of supply, competitive cost structures, and best-in-class supplier performance. This position is based full-time in our Fort Lauderdale headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for all packaging categories supporting company manufacturing operations.
• Identify and qualify alternative and emerging sources of supply to improve cost competitiveness, business continuity, and supply resilience.
• Lead supplier selection processes, RFQs, negotiations, and long-term strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Build and maintain a robust supplier portfolio capable of supporting future growth and changing market conditions.
• Monitor industry trends, supplier capacity developments, and competitive dynamics within the packaging sector.

Commodity Management

• Maintain expertise in the commercial and market drivers impacting:
  • Aluminum
  • Aluminum can sheet
  • Aluminum cans and ends
  • Resins and plastics
  • Paperboard and containerboard
  • Corrugated packaging
  • Energy and transportation inputs
• Analyze commodity market trends and develop strategies to mitigate volatility and optimize purchasing costs.
• Manage and negotiate commodity-based pricing mechanisms, escalators, index-linked agreements, and risk-sharing arrangements.

Contract Negotiation & Commercial Management

• Lead negotiation of supply agreements, pricing structures, service-level commitments, allocation protections, and performance guarantees.
• Establish contract terms that balance supply security, flexibility, inventory requirements, and cost competitiveness.
• Manage supplier commercial relationships at executive levels.
• Ensure contracts include appropriate performance metrics, quality standards, and claims resolution procedures.

Supply Planning & Forecasting

• Partner with Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to develop accurate packaging forecasts.
• Align supply commitments and capacity reservations with production requirements.
• Manage supplier production planning and inventory strategies to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
• Support annual budgeting, long-range planning, and cost forecasting activities.

Supplier Performance & Quality Management

• Develop supplier scorecards and performance management processes.
• Conduct regular business reviews with strategic suppliers.
• Lead corrective action activities related to supply disruptions, quality concerns, service failures, and cost recovery opportunities.
• Manage claims processes involving shortages, quality defects, freight damage, service failures, and contract compliance issues.

Logistics & Transportation

• Oversee inbound transportation strategies for packaging materials.
• Partner with logistics providers and suppliers to optimize freight costs, service levels, and inventory positioning.
• Develop solutions to improve transportation efficiency and reduce supply chain risk.
• Monitor supplier shipping performance and transportation-related KPIs.

Leadership

• Foster a culture of accountability, strategic thinking, supplier partnership, and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate effectively across manufacturing, operations, finance, and executive leadership teams.
• Provide market intelligence and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in packaging procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, packaging sales, or beverage industry purchasing.
• Minimum 8 years of leadership experience managing procurement, sourcing, or commercial teams.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating multi-million-dollar supply agreements and commodity-based contracts.
• Deep understanding of packaging manufacturing processes and supply chains.
• Strong knowledge of commodity pricing mechanisms and market fundamentals.
• Proven success leading supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation capabilities.
• Excellent communication and executive relationship management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

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

• Packaging procurement leadership within a U.S. beverage company.
• Strategic sourcing leadership supporting beverage manufacturing operations.
• Senior commercial, sales, or strategy roles with a major aluminum can manufacturer.
• Experience working with can manufacturers, can sheet suppliers, beverage packaging converters, resin producers, paperboard suppliers, and transportation providers.
• Direct experience managing aluminum-related supply agreements and commodity-index pricing structures.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Sourcing
• Commodity Management
• Aluminum Market Expertise
• Contract Negotiation
• Supplier Development
• Cost Management
• Forecasting & Demand Planning
• Supply Chain Risk Management
• Transportation & Logistics
• Executive Leadership
• Financial Analysis
• Claims Resolution
• Business Continuity Planning

What Success Looks Like

The Vice President, Packaging Purchasing will ensure National Beverage maintains reliable, cost-effective, and strategically positioned packaging supply chains while developing competitive advantages through superior supplier relationships, commodity market insight, effective contracting, and disciplined execution. The successful candidate will protect supply, reduce total cost, mitigate risk, and support the company's continued growth through exceptional leadership of its packaging procurement organization.