Job Overview:

Responsible for providing strategic leadership to the UNFI Procurement team by working collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies. Accountable for building and leading a world-class supply chain organization that delivers excellent service levels to all customers at the lowest cost while meeting desired quality and service levels. Provide overall leadership responsibility for natural and/or conventional procurement departments.  This position is remote, but must be located in MN, RI or CA.

Job Responsibilities:

Core Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for UNFI procurement to successfully achieve the goals and objectives of the Company’s business plan in full alignment with the strategy.

• Direct the procurement team’s system application to enhance our competitive advantage in administrative and whole customer support capabilities.  

• Directs and manages the Procurement leadership team towards the accomplishment of organizational goals, mentor their professional development and evaluate their organizational effectiveness in alignment with the company’s performance expectations.

• Lead UNFI procurement in a manner to maintain order, discal stewardship and spending discipline.

• Provide strategic direction for analytics team that provides data and insights to buying team.

• Execute assigned projects utilizing project plan development, including due diligence, project team creation and coordination, risk management, and goal accomplishment.

• Interface with customers to assist with troubleshooting issues that arise and develop corrective actions to eliminate the issue’s root cause.

• Ensure compliance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) as it pertains to UNFI procurement.

• Ensures sourcing, hiring, evaluation, and promotion of the candidates with the best fit for the role, under applicable state and federal laws, to ensure bench strength and talent availability for key positions.

• Collaboratively work with internal/external customers on national and interdepartmental issues.

• Perform all duties and responsibilities in an ethical manner and per company policies and procedures.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Education/ Certifications:

• ·       Bachelor’s degree in business or food science related specialty or equivalent training and experience.

• ·       MBA preferred.

Experience:

• 12+ years of demonstrated management and leadership experience in a high-volume, multi-site distribution/retail/wholesale/food industry environment.

• Experience leading large change initiatives and developing a leadership team.

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Knowledgeable of food distribution, specially in operations and logistics preferred.

• Competent with computer systems and applications include MS Office Suite including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

• Strong strategic and tactical skills; ability to see the big picture and identify key issues.

• Excellent project management skills.

• Highly motivated leader with excellent planning, organizing, management, and leadership skills.

• Ability to be an effective executive team member.

• Ability to develop and maintain effective, positive internal/external working relationships with a diverse group of individuals; ability to exemplify these skills in a leadership role.

•  Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Strong sense of urgency with the ability to work and excel in a fast-paced environment.

• Ability to drive inefficiency out of the system.

• Able to effectively manage results across functional and cultural boundaries.

• Able to balance the expectations of multiple parties.

• Excellent verbal/written communication skills; effectively communicates up and down the organization.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimum supervision.

• Able to be comfortable in a highly open, dynamic, and collaborative company culture.

• Able to embrace and facilitate progressive change; able to effectively lead others during times of change.

• Able to work a varied, flexible schedule to meet business demands.

• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:

Remote Role: Located in MN, RI or CA

·       This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

Travel (minor):

·       This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.