Job Description
Our client is a rapidly growing food manufacturer specializing in scratch-made artisan breads, fresh pasta, gourmet sauces, authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, calzones, and restaurant-quality prepared meals. The company combines artisan food craftsmanship with innovative large-scale manufacturing technologies to deliver premium products across multiple channels.
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Position Summary
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The Supply Chain Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing the company’s end-to-end supply chain operations, including demand and inventory planning, material availability, supplier coordination, logistics collaboration, and supply chain performance. Reporting to the VP of Supply Chain, this role ensures the uninterrupted flow of ingredients, packaging, and finished goods to support production, customer service, and business growth.
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The Supply Chain Manager partners closely with Operations, Planning, Quality, R&D, Logistics, and Finance to improve service levels, inventory performance, capacity utilization, and supply chain efficiency. While maintaining oversight of key supplier relationships and purchasing activities, the primary focus of this position is supply chain strategy, execution, and continuous improvement.
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Key Responsibilities
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Supply Chain Planning & Operations
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- Lead inventory planning, material requirements planning (MRP), and replenishment processes to ensure product availability and operational continuity.
- Develop inventory strategies, safety stock policies, and working capital initiatives that balance customer service and cost objectives.
- Coordinate closely with Production, Scheduling, Warehousing, and Logistics teams to align supply with demand requirements.
- Monitor key performance indicators including inventory turns, forecast accuracy, service levels, material availability, and inventory accuracy.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance supply chain efficiency, visibility, and scalability.
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Supplier & Procurement Coordination
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- Manage purchasing activities and support sourcing initiatives for ingredients, packaging, and indirect materials.
- Maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, delivery performance, service reliability, and cost competitiveness.
- Support contract negotiations, supplier reviews, and strategic sourcing projects in partnership with leadership.
- Develop supplier performance metrics and corrective action processes when needed.
- Assist in identifying alternate supply sources and contingency plans to reduce supply risk.
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Supply Chain Risk & Business Continuity
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- Monitor market conditions, supply trends, and potential disruptions affecting material availability.
- Develop risk mitigation plans related to suppliers, transportation, inventory, and production continuity.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to improve supply chain resilience and responsiveness.
- Support forecasting, budgeting, and operational planning through data analysis and reporting.
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Cross-Functional Leadership
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- Collaborate with Operations, Quality, R&D, Sales, and Finance to support customer demand and new product launches.
- Ensure material readiness and supply chain alignment for commercialization initiatives.
- Lead projects focused on process optimization, cost reduction, service improvement, and operational excellence.
- Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement across the supply chain organization.
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Team Leadership
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- Lead, develop, and mentor supply chain, planning, and purchasing personnel.
- Establish performance goals, metrics, and development plans for team members.
- Manage departmental resources and priorities to support business objectives.
- Promote collaboration and effective communication across all functions.
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Qualifications & Requirements
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Required
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- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive supply chain, materials management, planning, logistics, or procurement experience within food manufacturing or CPG.
- 3+ years of leadership experience managing supply chain, planning, or procurement-related teams.
- Strong knowledge of inventory management, production planning, supply chain operations, and ERP/MRP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred).
- Experience working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with changing production priorities.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
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Preferred
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- MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain, Operations, or Business.
- APICS/ASCM certifications such as CSCP or CPIM.
- Experience in bakery, prepared foods, refrigerated foods, frozen foods, sauces, pasta, or similar food manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with supplier management, strategic sourcing, and commodity purchasing practices.
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Success Measures (12-18 months)
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- Improve inventory accuracy, service levels, and working capital performance.
- Enhance forecasting, planning, and material availability processes.
- Reduce supply disruptions through stronger supplier management and risk mitigation practices.
- Improve on-time delivery and operational support for production requirements.
- Build a scalable supply chain infrastructure that supports continued growth and customer satisfaction.
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Target Profile: Experienced food manufacturing supply chain leader with a strong background in planning, inventory management, supplier coordination, logistics, and operational execution. Proven ability to improve supply chain performance, lead cross-functional teams, and support growth within bakery, prepared foods, refrigerated foods, frozen foods, pasta, sauces, or similar artisan food manufacturing environments.