The Director of Procurement for North America is responsible for creating and implementing procurement strategies that align with the Group's goals for the region. This involves optimizing procurement processes to ensure cost-effective sourcing of high-quality ingredients, materials, and indirect goods and services all while supporting sustainability and growth objectives. The role includes overseeing procurement across all North American manufacturing and distribution sites across the United States, Mexico and Canada, managing a team of procurement managers and analysts, working with planning teams, and partnering with Finance to drive profit and loss (P&L) results. The position reports directly into the US VP Operations with functional reporting into the Group Procurement Director with key stakeholders being General Managers of the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Primary Responsibilities

• Define and implement regional procurement strategy for the North America Region (US, Mexico, Canada), considering regional and country-specific needs and circumstances
• Lead and manage procurement operations, including supplier selection, contract management/negotiation, governance, cost optimization, and contract termination
• Identify training and tools needed to improve procurement efficiency
• Collaborate with Pricing to optimize profit margins by managing raw material price evolutions and incorporating savings into margins
• Develop and execute raw materials cover strategies in cooperation with the business to minimize impacts from fluctuating commodities markets
• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and ESG commitments
• Implement action plans with suppliers to improve performance and meet or exceed contractual performance criteria
• Provide leadership to promote effective supplier relationships based on fair buying practices and strict maintenance of ethical standards
• Develop, implement, and execute strategies to maximize the company's leverage with suppliers, aligned with business objectives
• Drive the implementation of category strategies through the procurement team and measure delivery
• Foster innovation and develop potential new suppliers and alternate sources
• Understand and implement requirements related to the company's Global supplier diversity initiative, including setting and measuring performance targets
• Drive Operational Excellence (CI) initiatives for the region
• Develop and adopt digital/AI solutions to accelerate productivity and efficiencies
• Collaborate with Group (Global) Procurement resources as appropriate on all above responsibilities

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred in a relevant discipline: business administration, economics, food science
• 10 years related experience with 7+ years of relevant leadership experience, preferably in purchasing with direct material experience
• Extensive experience in food procurement with strong background in globally traded commidities such as sugar, flour, cocoa, dairy
• Proven track record managing global spend upwards of $100M with strong knowledge of international markets
• Required to work out of Pennsauken, NJ Headquarters
• Experience leading leaders, providing coaching, developing talent, and building a high-performance team
• Experience managing both commodity and non-commodity items
• Experience managing commodity items, specifically food ingredients with knowledge of hedging, coverage and futures markets
• Cultural awareness and experience of diversity
• Understand and masters the usage of SAP or an equivalent ERP system
• Detail oriented, organized and able to function effectively and productively in an extremely fast-paced environment
• Possess strong interpersonal, presentation, verbal and written communication skills
• Works and has a strong ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines
• Analytical skills for market trend analysis and cost optimization.
• Fluent in English with Spanish language skills as beneficial in the role
• Travel will be required based on the needs of the business to include visits to customers, suppliers, manufacturing locations mostly in North America, occasional travel to Europe required

Looking for a Career for Good?

Puratos is a global purpose-driven company focused on bringing people together through food innovation for good. We offer a full range of innovative food ingredients and services for the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate sectors, serving artisans, retailers, industrial and food service companies in over 100 countries around the world. Our passion for innovation, pioneering spirit, and core values continue to propel our global ambitions. This coupled with our commitment to our communities is what makes working at Puratos so magical.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefit package, designed to promote a Happier, Healthier You.  This includes:

• Insurance coverage beginning the first of the month—no extra waiting period to get started
• Immediate 401(k) eligibility including a fully vested matching contribution
• Receive over 5 weeks total of paid time off within your first year of service
• Free life coaches, convenient onsite health exams, 24/7 access to Registered Nurses
• Puratos-paid insurance coverage to protect you and your family including Life and Disability insurance

"If you are a solution oriented and analytical thinker with a passion for leading and inspiring people, we invite you to experience the magic of being yourself and join us for “a career for good.”