Supply Chain Director

About the Role

The Supply Chain Director will spearhead and enhance the entire supply chain operations within a food ingredients manufacturing company. This pivotal position manages demand and production planning, procurement, inventory control, warehousing, and logistics to guarantee dependable supply, achieve cost efficiencies, and ensure compliance with food safety standards. As a strategic leader, the director will advance key initiatives, elevate service levels, and synchronize supply chain functions with the overarching business goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and implement a robust supply chain strategy that supports company growth, cost targets, and service objectives.
• Drive supply chain transformation projects focusing on process improvements, adoption of digital tools, and supply network design.
• Define and track performance indicators to foster ongoing improvements.
• Collaborate with senior leadership in strategic planning and decision-making.
• Oversee demand planning and forecasting ensuring alignment with market needs and operational capacity.
• Balance supply-demand dynamics to fulfill customer service and financial goals.
• Continuously improve forecasting accuracy and responsiveness.
• Develop procurement strategies for raw materials and packaging, including supplier selection and negotiation.
• Manage supplier relationships to minimize supply risks and control commodity price volatility.
• Guarantee supplier adherence to food safety and regulatory mandates.
• Coordinate production planning consistent with demand and inventory policies.
• Supervise inventory management of raw materials, work in progress, and finished products, working to optimize inventory, safety stock, and reduce waste or stockouts, particularly for perishable goods.
• Manage warehousing and transportation systems, optimizing freight costs and delivery effectiveness.
• Oversee third-party logistics providers to enhance service delivery.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety standards including GMP, HACCP, FSMA, traceability, and lot control.
• Maintain audit readiness and manage comprehensive supply chain documentation.
• Partner with Quality teams to guarantee supplier and material compliance.
• Administer supply chain ERP and planning tools ensuring data integrity and leveraging analytics for better decision-making.
• Promote continuous process improvements across supply chain operations.
• Engage cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Sales, Finance, and R&D to support product development and commercial initiatives.
• Communicate supply chain risks and mitigation plans effectively.
• Lead and develop the supply chain team, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Adhere strictly to all pertinent government and company policies concerning safety, sanitation, GMP, Food Safety, Quality, and SQF codes.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related discipline is required; an MBA or advanced degree is preferred.
• 10 to 15+ years of progressive experience in supply chain roles within manufacturing environments.
• At least 5 years in senior leadership managing multiple supply chain segments.
• Industry experience in food, beverage, or ingredient manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Proficient with ERP/MRP systems, demand planning, and forecasting tools.
• Strong analytical and financial skills with knowledge of supply chain optimization and modeling software.
• Comprehensive understanding of end-to-end supply chain workflows, global sourcing, logistics, and trade compliance.
• Demonstrated change management capabilities and a mindset geared towards continuous improvement.
• Effective executive communication skills and ability to influence stakeholders.