Director Purchasing, Spices & Vegetables - North America

Griffith Foods is the caring, creative product development partner helping food companies meet the evolving needs of consumers while sustaining the planet. As a family business founded in 1919 and headquartered in Alsip, Illinois USA, Griffith Foods is known for true, collaborative innovation guided by their Purpose of “We Blend Care and Creativity to Nourish the World”. The company’s product capabilities range from seasonings and marinades to coating systems and sauces that are better for people and better for the planet.

TITLE: Director Purchasing, Spices & Vegetables - NA

LOCATION: Hybrid in Scarborough, ON, Canada

Average days per week onsite: 2-3 days per week

COMP RANGE: CAD $135,000 – 185,000/year

Compensation is determined based on experience, qualifications & internal equity.

Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Griffith Foods is hiring a Director Purchasing, Spices & Vegetables – North America to lead the strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, risk management, and cost optimization activities for the Spices & Vegetables category across North America. The role leads a team of 3 purchasing professionals responsible for ensuring supply continuity, market competitiveness, sustainable sourcing, and execution of category strategies aligned with business objectives.

As a member of the Canada Leadership Team, this position partners closely with Commercial, SCH, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, and R&D leaders to support growth, profitability, and long‑term business success.

This is your opportunity to lead the Spices & Vegetables category purchasing, accountable for approximately $75MM in annual supplier spend, across the North America region, while also serving as a member of the Canada Leadership Team. The position plays a critical role in supporting business growth, margin management, risk mitigation, and execution of the company’s long‑range strategic objectives.

• Lead the development and execution of sourcing and category strategies for Spices & Vegetables across North America.
• Serve as an active member of the Canada Leadership Team, contributing to broader business strategy, organizational effectiveness, and talent development.
• Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships to support cost competitiveness, quality, innovation, sustainability, and supply continuity, including leading contract negotiations and commercial discussions with key suppliers.
• Develop and execute risk mitigation strategies related to supply availability, commodity volatility, geopolitical events, regulatory changes, weather impacts, and other market disruptions.
• Partner with Commercial teams and customers by providing market intelligence, category insights, and sourcing recommendations, while monitoring market trends, supply chain dynamics, and category risks to proactively adjust sourcing strategies and support business decision‑making.
• Drive annual operating plan commitments through effective management of raw material forecasts, PPV, productivity initiatives, working capital, and cost‑of‑use opportunities.
• Lead supplier performance management processes, including scorecards, business reviews, corrective actions, continuous improvement initiatives, and supplier compliance with applicable sustainability certifications, policies, and customer requirements.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to support innovation, commercialization, customer projects, and business continuity initiatives.
• Drive standardization, governance, and continuous improvement initiatives across the North America Purchasing organization.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of purchasing professionals, including succession planning, performance management, and capability development.

• Balance supply continuity, quality, cost competitiveness, sustainability, and customer requirements in a dynamic business environment.
• Analyze complex market conditions and supply chain risks to develop proactive sourcing and mitigation strategies.
• Resolve critical supplier, operational, and commercial challenges with incomplete or rapidly changing information.
• Lead decision‑making during supply…