Director, Purchasing

Job Details: Level: Senior, Job Location: Elmwood Office RFC

• New Orleans, LA, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Job Category: Supply Chain, Reily Foods Company has a passion for flavor and has been providing iconic foods and beverages that create meals and memories for over 120 years! Our products consist of New England Coffee, French Market Coffee, Luzianne Iced Tea, Blue Plate Mayonnaise, Swans Down Cake Flour, Tiger Sauce, and Carroll Shelby Chili (to name a few) and can be found in foodservice and retail locations around the country. The Director, Purchasing owns purchasing strategy, vendor negotiation, and supplier performance across a combined ~$65M annual spend portfolio inclusive of packaging (primary, secondary, tertiary), ingredients/raw materials, and co-pack/co-manufacturing partners. This role is accountable for margin protection, supply continuity, and supplier risk across these categories and serves as the senior point of contact for strategic suppliers and manufacturing partners. The Director partners with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Commercial leadership to align purchasing strategy with cost targets, product specifications, and innovation and launch timelines. Strategy & Governance Develop and execute the purchasing strategy for packaging, ingredients, and co-manufacturing, aligned to margin, service, and growth objectives Own annual savings and cost-avoidance targets, and partner with Finance on budgets, forecasts, and standard cost impacts Segment the supplier base (strategic, preferred, transactional) and set engagement models for each tier Establish purchasing policies, approval thresholds, and contract governance in partnership with Legal and Finance Present spend analysis, market outlook, risk exposure, and negotiation outcomes to executive leadership Ingredients Lead negotiation of pricing, volume commitments, and terms with key ingredient/raw material suppliers, including formula or index-based pricing tied to commodity markets Set forward-buying, contracting, and coverage strategy in response to commodity market trends and volatility Partner with R&D and Quality on ingredient specifications, allergen management, and regulatory compliance (FDA, USDA, GFSI/SQF/BRC) Mitigate single-source and specialty ingredient risk through alternate-source qualification and business continuity planning Packaging Lead negotiation of pricing and terms with packaging suppliers (resin, paperboard, glass, flexible film, closures, labels, etc.), including resin and paper index exposure Drive cost-savings initiatives through packaging redesign, light-weighting, material substitution, and supplier consolidation Partner with R&D, Marketing, and Sustainability on packaging changes tied to product redesigns, sustainability commitments, and regulatory requirements Align packaging supplier capacity and lead times with launch calendars and seasonal or promotional volume shifts Co-Pack / Co-Manufacturing Own the co-manufacturing partner strategy, including network design, partner selection, and make-vs-buy input Negotiate co-manufacturing agreements covering pricing, minimum volume commitments, capacity reservations, and quality and performance standards Serve as executive sponsor for key co-manufacturing relationships and lead escalations involving capacity, quality, or service failures Partner with Supply Chain Planning and Quality to align production scheduling, capacity, and audit/certification requirements (GFSI/SQF/BRC) with demand forecasts and NPD timelines Oversee onboarding and qualification of new co-manufacturing partners, including capability assessments and pilot runs Monitor co-manufacturer performance against SLAs (on-time delivery, yield, quality defect rates) and drive corrective action Manage risk related to partner capacity constraints, financial stability, and single-source production dependencies Supplier Performance & Risk Establish supplier scorecards and KPIs (cost, quality, on-time delivery, innovation) and lead executive business reviews with top-tier suppliers and partners Build and maintain supplier risk management and business continuity plans across all three categories Ensure compliance with ethical sourcing, sustainability, and customer or retailer-specific vendor requirements Support NPD and innovation pipelines by coordinating ingredient, packaging, and co-manufacturing lead times, minimums, and capacity commitments Maintain the contract renewal calendar aligned to production and promotional cycles Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Food Science, or related field; MBA a plus 8–12+ years of progressive experience in purchasing, strategic sourcing, or procurement within CPG or food & beverage, including ingredient, packaging, and/or co-manufacturing categories Demonstrated experience owning a spend portfolio of $25M+ and delivering measurable savings Proven track record negotiating complex, high-value supplier and co-manufacturing agreements Working knowledge of commodity and packaging material markets (resin, paperboard, agricultural inputs) and contract structures that manage price volatility Experience working with co-packers or contract manufacturers, including capacity planning and quality oversight Familiarity with food safety and regulatory compliance frameworks (FDA, USDA, GFSI/SQF/BRC) Strong financial acumen, including cost modeling, TCO, and margin impact analysis Executive presence and ability to present to senior leadership Proficiency with ERP and procurement systems; experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) preferred Experience managing multi-site or multi-partner co-manufacturing networks Experience leading sustainable packaging initiatives (recyclable/compostable materials, light-weighting) Experience with specialty or allergen-sensitive ingredient sourcing Experience supporting NPD/innovation sourcing and scale-up production CPSM, CIPS, or ASQ certification Strategic negotiation at scale Commodity and packaging market fluency Co-manufacturer relationship and network management Cross-functional partnership (R&D, Quality, Sustainability, Finance, Supply Chain) Financial and risk analysis Executive communication We offer a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package that supports the well-being, financial security, and work-life balance of our employees. 10 Paid Company Holidays Generous Paid Vacation & Sick Time Comprehensive, Affordable Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage for you and your family Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match and discretionary profit sharing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and financial wellness resources Company‑Paid Disability Company‑Paid Life Insurance equal to 1.5× annual compensation And more benefits designed to support your health, wealth, and well‑being Together, these benefits reflect our commitment to caring for our employees both inside and outside the workplace.