JOB LOCATION SITES
Houston, Austin, or Dallas, TX.
Long Island City, NY,
Washington D.C.,
Naples, FL.
i. Procurement/Sourcing – Coordinate our daily produce needs in all cities, managing current supply streams and establishing new ones while maintaining core item rotation in order to ensure weekly variety in our bags. The Sourcing Manager will assess our overall needs vis-à-vis the supply chain in place now, build a forecasting model to know what are needs will be in future weeks/months, and will act as the central liaison between our City Directors and distribution partners to ensure that we are getting the product we need, when we need it.
The Sourcing Manager will work with our distribution partners, understand their operations, assist with issues related to incoming/outgoing inventory, and collaborate with appropriate partners to secure additional donations from Brighter Bites vendors.
ii. Sustainability – Brighter Bites, with support from food banks and partners in the produce industry, is tackling food waste and converting it into an impactful public health opportunity. As such, working with these partners and growing donations of rejected/kicked loads and “seconds” will be a priority.
The Sourcing Manager will implement a “local” and “sustainable” program (where applicable), regularly monitoring peak season products and taking into consideration current growing conditions and items that are long on the market, so that we can offer the freshest and tastiest produce available; great quality, flavor, and variety drive loyalty, and increased loyalty changes health outcomes.
In addition, we expect the Sourcing Manager to establish “Farm to Brighter Bites” connections and opportunities, developing a replicable platform to easily gain vendors and secure the products they have to offer and positioning it as a win/win for all involved.
iii. Partner/Industry Engagement – Brighter Bites also has the support of the Produce Marketing Association, a leading trade organization that represents companies from every segment of the global fresh produce supply chain. The Sourcing Manager, together with the Executive Director, Founders, and Board, will work with the industry (e.g., growers, shippers, marketing groups, distributors, carriers, etc.) and build an end-to-end platform/process that consolidates product.
In addition to these primary roles, areas of responsibility will include:
- Quality Assurance/Food Safety – Consult with industry experts, Brighter Bites Board and Leadership, and legal counsel to build a traceability platform that ensures the integrity of all inbound and outbound produce. S/he will establish our product liability threshold and implement that requirement throughout our supply chain.
- Develop and maintain effective communication and relationships with past, current and potential partners – trade associations, growers, distributors, retailers.
- Manage preparation and recording of acknowledgement letters, track future actions, and file relevant paperwork as it relates to tax benefits of donations (financial and in-kind).
- Work closely with the Marketing/Communications team on appropriate public recognition of support.
- Desire and passion to work with a mission-driven organization. One should not only be curious about the world of increasing food access and food literacy, but also have enthusiasm and drive to help us change that world.
- Entrepreneurial mindset. We are looking for a self-starting produce hustler who can expand upon existing partnerships and build new ones with representatives and organizations across the industry. Brighter Bites’ weekly produce needs are significant and the logistics complex - locating product from multiple locations/multiple sources that must be found and delivered via multiple avenues. Innovative thinking will be paramount.
- Stellar writing and interpersonal communication skills. You will at times be the voice and face of Brighter Bites in the community and with partners that enable our programming, and you must exhibit a positive and strategic presence on Brighter Bites’ behalf. Furthermore, at times you will be expected to give oral presentations, and some experience in this realm is required.
- A Bachelor’s degree is preferred, in addition to at least five (5) years of procurement/sourcing experience in the produce industry.
- Preference will be given to candidates who possess existing relationships with key players in the fresh produce supply chain.
- Strong project management skills, an appreciation for meeting deadlines, and the foresight and organizational wherewithal to be proactive.
