Associate Director, Produce

Overview

We are looking for an Associate Director of Produce Procurement with a proven track record in driving strategic sourcing initiatives, optimizing supplier partnerships, and leading high-performing teams. This role will be responsible for shaping and executing our produce procurement strategy across multiple categories, ensuring supply continuity, quality, and cost efficiency. You will lead a team of sourcing professionals and collaborate cross-functionally to unlock value, improve pricing structures, and identify innovative sourcing opportunities.

You are passionate about transforming procurement into a competitive advantage—leveraging analytics, market insights, and strong supplier relationships to drive sustainable savings and long-term growth.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive produce sourcing strategy to support business goals around cost optimization, supply continuity, quality, and innovation
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of strategy managers and sourcing professionals focused on produce procurement
• Build and nurture strategic supplier relationships to enhance performance, foster innovation, and ensure long-term supply security
• Drive contract negotiations and cost reduction initiatives across produce categories, leveraging market insights and competitive sourcing tactics
• Own and manage the produce procurement budget for your respective categories, including forecasting, variance analysis, and reporting in alignment with finance and executive leadership
• Monitor global and domestic produce markets, analyze commodity trends, and proactively develop risk management strategies to mitigate volatility and supply disruptions
• Partner cross-functionally with Procurement Operations, FSQA, Culinary, and Product leadership to align procurement strategies with business needs and brand standards
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support new product launches, value engineering, and process improvement opportunities
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier performance, team output, and cost savings to ensure delivery of organizational objectives
• Support implementation of procurement systems and tools to improve process efficiency, data accuracy, and stakeholder visibility
• Champion data-driven decision-making and robust business intelligence practices within the team and across procurement functions
• Lead Business Reviews with key suppliers to monitor performance, address gaps, and identify future partnership opportunities
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and food safety standards in all sourcing decisions and supplier engagements

• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect day-to-day execution with long-term sourcing and business goals
• Proven people leader who develops talent, builds strong teams, and creates an inclusive, high-performance culture
• Strong negotiator who is confident managing complex supplier agreements and driving cost savings without compromising quality or relationships
• Highly analytical with a data-driven approach to problem-solving, decision-making, and continuous improvement
• Strong collaborator who works effectively across departments—especially with culinary, quality, operations, and finance teams
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Customer- and quality-obsessed, with a passion for delivering products that meet or exceed expectations
• Driven by results, with a clear focus on delivering measurable impact through sourcing initiatives and team performance

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Agribusiness, or a related field preferred
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in procurement or supply chain, with a strong focus on produce categories
• Proven leadership experience managing teams, developing talent, and driving cross-functional initiatives
• Demonstrated success in supplier negotiations, cost savings delivery, and strategic sourcing execution in a fast-paced environment
• This position s essential functions demand the performance of the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation:
• Prolonged periods working at a desk…