Director of Procurement

Richelieu Foods•Wheeling, IL

About The Position

At Richelieu Foods, we are dedicated to a culture of belonging for everyone. Driven by our values of ownership, respect, and growth, we put people, safety, and quality above all else -- delicious pizza, outstanding service, and solid customer relationships are what happens as a result! Founded in 1862, Richelieu Foods, Inc. is a private brand and contract packing food company with a rich history. Widely known in the food and supermarket industry for its superior array of private brand products, Richelieu’s principal business segment is retail frozen and deli pizza. Richelieu Foods provides the highest quality products and services with competitive pricing for our Retail, Corporate Brands, and Contract Packing customers. Richelieu Foods is headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois, and operates two manufacturing facilities located in IL and WI. At Richelieu Foods, we are making Great Food from Great People. We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Procurement to lead the sourcing and purchasing of ingredients, packaging materials, and commodities for our growing private label food manufacturing business. This role will be responsible for building a best-in-class procurement organization, aligning sourcing strategies with business goals, and ensuring cost-effective, high-quality, and timely supply of materials. A key focus will be on people development, process optimization, and team structure, while managing supplier relationships and mitigating risk across a global supply base.

Requirements

Strategic thinking with an operational mindset.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Strong financial acumen and analytical capability.
Change management and organizational design experience.
Ability to think strategically and execute tactically in a fast-paced environment.
Deep knowledge of ingredient and packaging sourcing, commodity markets, and global supply chain dynamics.
Proven leadership in building, developing, and scaling procurement teams.
Strong negotiation, contract management, and supplier relationship skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Food Science, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive procurement experience, ideally in food manufacturing or CPG.
Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and procurement tools.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement short- and long-term procurement strategies for ingredients, packaging, and key commodities.
Align procurement goals with business objectives, production needs, and market trends.
Identify and drive cost reduction opportunities through sourcing efficiencies, contract negotiations, and supplier consolidation.
Oversee category strategies for ingredients, primary/secondary packaging, and direct materials.
Monitor commodity markets, analyze trends, and develop risk mitigation plans (e.g., forward buying, hedging).
Partner with R&D, Operations, and Quality teams to ensure supplier capabilities meet specifications and standards.
Lead supplier selection, onboarding, and performance management processes.
Negotiate and manage contracts and SLAs to ensure reliable supply and competitive pricing.
Build strategic partnerships with key suppliers and monitor supplier risk and compliance.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing procurement team.
Design and evolve procurement structure to support business growth and complexity.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.
Implement procurement best practices, tools, and KPIs to monitor team and supplier performance.
Collaborate with Finance, Planning, and Manufacturing to align purchasing with budgets and forecasts.
Leverage ERP and procurement systems to drive data-driven decisions and process efficiency.