Director of Supply Chain Operations

Job Overview

The Director of Supply Chain is a strategic leadership role responsible for the end-to-end supply chain strategy and execution across sourcing, procurement, logistics, and warehouse operations for a national network of over 1,200 sushi and fresh‑cut fruit retail locations across the United States.

This role requires deep expertise in sushi, seafood, and frozen, perishable, and non‑perishable food supply chains, with responsibility for sourcing high‑quality ingredients, packaging, and products through a centralized distribution model. The Director is responsible for ensuring a consistent, cost‑effective, and scalable supply chain across global and domestic suppliers serving all retail locations.

The position has full accountability for the entire supply chain lifecycle—from strategic sourcing and supplier partnerships to inventory planning, 3PL management, and final distribution to stores—while ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement.

• Develop and execute a fully integrated supply chain strategy covering sourcing, procurement, logistics, warehousing, and distribution.
• Ensure seamless product flow from global and domestic suppliers through centralized warehouse operations to 1,200+ retail locations.
• Lead just‑in‑time (JIT) inventory strategies to balance product freshness, availability, and working capital.

• Lead sourcing strategies for:
  • Frozen seafood and protein categories
  • Sushi ingredients (rice, nori, sauces, etc.)
  • Japanese and Asian frozen value‑added products
  • Packaging and labeling (sushi and fresh‑cut fruit programs)
  • Distribution‑related supplies.
• Build and manage global supplier networks, with a focus on Asia and South America.
• Ensure consistent product quality, food safety, and supply continuity.
• Identify and execute cost savings opportunities while maintaining quality standards.

• Oversee all procurement activities, including:
  • Vendor selection, onboarding, and qualification
  • Contract negotiation and pricing strategies
  • Supplier performance management (KPIs, SLAs)
• Establish and maintain long‑term strategic partnerships.
• Ensure full compliance with contractual, regulatory, and quality requirements.

• Manage third‑party logistics (3PL) providers and warehouse partners.
• Optimize inbound and outbound logistics to support a national, multi‑state distribution network.
• Ensure cold chain integrity, freight efficiency, and service reliability.
• Oversee distribution planning and execution for all locations.

• Define and execute warehouse strategy, including:
  • Inventory control and accuracy
  • Cold storage optimization (frozen and refrigerated)
  • Product flow and throughput efficiency
• Implement and enhance warehouse management systems (WMS).
• Maintain optimal inventory levels to minimize waste and prevent stockouts.
• Oversee operations, efficiencies and contingency planning.

• Partner with Operations, Merchandising, R&D, Finance, QA/Food Safety, and Franchise Support teams.
• Drive accurate forecasting and demand planning processes.
• Support new product launches, promotions, and expansion initiatives.

• Own the supply chain budget and overall cost structure.
• Analyze commodity markets (especially seafood), freight costs, and supplier pricing.
• Drive continuous cost optimization and margin improvement initiatives.

• Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and applicable local and international regulations.
• Maintain adherence to food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, cold chain requirements).
• Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies related to:
  • Supply disruptions
  • Import/export challenges
  • Perishable product handling

• Optimize and advance the current ERP environment (e.g., Net Suite) to fully support end‑to‑end supply chain visibility.
• Enhance integrated procurement and inventory management tools to streamline national distribution.
• Drive…