Senior Director of Supply Chain – Beverage

Role Overview

The Senior Director of Supply Chain for the beverage division at Levels is a key leadership position charged with overseeing the complete supply chain operations for the beverage portfolio. This role encompasses strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier and co-manufacturer contract management, demand and supply planning, inventory oversight, and commercialization support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives for raw materials, packaging, and co-manufacturing resources, including specialized ingredients such as emulsified and ultra-filtered milk.
• Manage contract negotiations and ongoing commercial relationships with co-manufacturers, suppliers, and packaging vendors, handling pricing, minimum order quantities, lead times, and capacity commitments.
• Develop and maintain a supplier qualification and risk management framework, including dual-sourcing strategies and contingency plans for critical inputs.
• Conduct total landed cost analyses and implement cost reduction strategies across beverage procurement categories.
• Own the supply chain function in new beverage product launches: coordinate co-manufacturer onboarding, formulation-to-production handoffs, packaging development schedules, and inventory ramp-up.
• Act as the supply chain liaison for R&D, quality assurance, and marketing teams to ensure seamless beverage launch timelines and mitigate supply-side risks.
• Establish scalable supply chain processes and documentation such as vendor onboarding checklists, MRP configurations, and launch readiness criteria tailored for the beverage segment.
• Take full accountability for MRP outputs, purchase order proposals, and finished goods procurement management from co-manufacturers.
• Directly supervise and develop the supply planning team member responsible for beverage operations to ensure adherence to service and accuracy standards.
• Oversee logistics and fulfillment activities, including shipment tracking, receipt verification, and packaging movement for the beverage line.
• Manage invoicing processes, pricing accuracy, and claims resolution including EDI invoicing and pricing maintenance specific to the beverage business.
• Coordinate with the Senior Supply Chain Director to conduct a dedicated S&OP process for the beverage category, addressing unique demand patterns, inventory reviews, and capacity planning.
• Provide consultative support on quality escalations, value-added services, and executive-level supply chain reporting for the beverage business.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in supply chain roles within CPG, food, or beverage industries, with at least 5 years in leadership positions.
• Hands-on experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, and contract negotiation with suppliers and co-manufacturers.
• Proven track record managing beverage supply chains, specifically handling complexities related to formulation-to-production and packaging sourcing.
• Deep knowledge of dairy-based beverage ingredients including emulsified and ultra-filtered milk and their effects on product stability and shelf life.
• Experience leading beverage or functional food product launches from R&D to commercial scale.
• Strong project management skills coordinating cross-functional supply chain activities involving R&D, quality, and marketing teams.
• Proficiency with MRP systems, purchase order management, and co-manufacturer coordination.
• Demonstrated demand planning expertise covering both finished products and raw components for co-manufactured beverages.
• Familiarity with inventory management tools such as CIN7 or NetStock and other ERP/planning platforms.
• Ability to develop and mentor direct reports while owning the overall beverage supply chain outcomes.
• Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and data modeling capabilities, with strong Excel and demand planning software skills.
• Excellent communication skills suited for executive engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Self-motivated with strong ownership and the capacity to set strategic direction and make autonomous decisions in a dynamic environment.
• Experience with 3PL operations, EDI management, and retail compliance with major retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Target, and Amazon (minimum 3 years).

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in protein, sports nutrition, or functional beverage/food brands.
• Experience managing logistics through Amazon Vendor Central or Seller Central platforms.
• Experience building or scaling supply chain functions within fast-growing CPG companies.