Director of Procurement

Founded in 1991, Testa Produce, Inc. is the successor to the original Dominick Testa and Sons. Testa Produce's roots date back to 1912, with founder Dominick Testa selling stalks of celery door-to-door out of a basket. The creation of the Chicago Terminal Produce Market provided a central selling location for years. As the restaurant industry evolved, so did Testa Produce. In 2011, Testa expanded yet again and moved into its new home: a 91,300 square foot facility to accommodate an ever-growing list of restaurant, hotel and food service customers. 

Essential Functions: 

• Key Procurement leader in produce and specialty foods contributing to strategy, planning, and business performance management for Testa Produce
• Negotiate and execute supplier programs and contracts that deliver optimal results
• Develop procurement strategies and budgets
• Execute performance scorecards at individual, department, and organizational level(s)
• Hire, develop, and manage the performance of buyers using KPIs, key measurements, and discretionary means of evaluation
• Foster a culture of gross margin consciousness, unprecedented customer service, proper cost to serve, and maximum profitability
• Purchase assigned products competitively to specification
• Develop product category programs alongside marketing and sales
• Interact and communicate with other departments on product status to achieve continuous and open flow of information
• Strive to improve inventory turns, reduce out of stock, control shrink and maintain FIFO inventory
• Monitor product quality to ensure customer satisfaction, by daily visual quality checks and monitoring daily inventory reports. Communicate quality issues with operations and quality control
• Coordinate the tracking of incoming freight for timely arrivals to eliminate out of stock and to improve operational efficiencies
• Use and/or help develop technology to improve the efficiencies of procurement
• Coordinate the tracking of accruals with FE Sourcing and/or Finance, as applicable
• Foster compelling relationships with key account executives and decision makers
• Continuously evaluate and evolve product and program offerings to drive performance and market relevancy
• Work cross functionally to deliver the marketplace appropriate service levels
• Leverage, maintain, and increase use of the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Produce Pro

Competencies:

• Intellectual horsepower
• Highly resourceful
• Strong relationship management and interpersonal skills
• Innovative and creative thinking
• Listening skills
• Influencing
• Negotiation skills
• Complex problem-solving
• Organized and attention-to-detail approach

Education, and Experience:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related field (Master’s preferred)
•  5+ years successful experience as a Category Manager/Buyer in the produce industry or at least 7 years successful related experience in the produce industry
•  Proficient PC skills in CRM and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems- Produce Pro, Microsoft Office (particularly Excel), and common E Mail systems

Compensation:

• $ 110,000 - $125,000/Year (Based on Experience)

Physical Demands:

• Travel as needed
• Stand or sit for long periods of time
• Occasionally lift up to 50lbs
• Work in cold and wet cooler conditions for extended periods of time

Benefits:

• Health & Welfare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, and Voluntary Life)
• Paid Time Off
• Holidays
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Weekly Paid
• Career Advancement Opportunities

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.