Procurement Manager

Organization Overview: Operation Food Search’s vision is to end hunger for children and their families. We offer a range of innovative programs and services proven to reduce food insecurity and increase access to healthy and affordable food.

·         Mission: To nourish and educate our neighbors in need to heal the hurt of hunger.

·         Organizational Strategic Pillars:

1) Meet the immediate need for food for children, families, and seniors

2) Build nutrition IQ through culinary programs and nutrition education

3) Champion change through advocacy, community education, and innovative pilot programs

Position Overview: The Procurement Manager will be responsible for overseeing and implementing comprehensive food procurement and purchasing programs that support the growing needs of the community and OFS’s expansion plans. The Procurement Manager will maintain and enhance relationships with local grocery store retailers, food manufacturers, wholesalers, caterers, restaurants, and farmers. The successful candidate will work closely with OFS staff to identify the right quality and quantity of food needed to support program services.

Food Sourcing

·         Oversee $30,000,000 annual budget of in-kind donations.

·         Work with internal program personnel to oversee overall logistics of food procurement and inventory management, including specialized purchasing programs with local partners.

·         Identify and manage food sourcing programs specifically related to: grocery retailers, branded manufacturers, 3rd party manufacturers, farming and producer communities.

·         Work directly with participating grocery retail store associates to maximize available local and regional donations and to minimize food waste.

·         Actively develop innovative partnerships that address food supply chain challenges (especially locally and regionally) and make donation the preferred solution for unmarketable/excess products.

·         Maintain and grow OFS’ gleaning efforts with local farms. This may include the supervision of a temporary employee.

·         Work with outside partners to facilitate shipping when necessary.

·         Provide professional, responsive and appreciative customer service to food industry partners, donors and team members.

·         Continue implementing USDA programs for food sourcing and run logistics.

·         Work with policy and advocacy to identify avenues of future USDA and gleaning funding.

·         Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of inventory on hand and what is needed.

Relationship Management

·         Maintain a relationship building schedule that includes face-to-face visits, meetings, tours and presentations with donors. Host food industry member visits and tours.

·         Serve as the staff liaison to the Food Advisory Board to obtain valuable advice and strategies from food service professionals.

·         Work with Agency Relations department to work through logistical challenges between Community Food Partners and Grocery Store Partners.

·         Continue execution of the recognition program with Development and Communications that commends companies/individuals based on quantity and quality of food donations.

·         Identify and initiate new donor relationships with food suppliers and relevant trade/industry organizations.

·         Build deep donor relationships by identifying opportunities to link in-kind food donors with the OFS mission when appropriate (such as cause marketing and workplace giving campaigns, volunteering, special events, etc.).

·         Identify promotional materials needed for building relationships with potential/existing donors.

·         Maintain a key contact database with all current and potential donors.

·         Work collaboratively across programs to identify product distribution channels.

·         Manage logistics of strategic partnerships such as April Showers and Shop Out Hunger.

·         Serve on the Nutrition Policy Committee.

Food Procurement Planning & Analysis

·         Develop annual and long-term business plans for food acquisition based on strategic planning; including donor recognition activities, performance metrics, and annual outcomes/goals.

·         Analyze information collected from ROMA to monitor donation activity.

·         Maintain accuracy of incoming donation receipts and manage approval process.

·         Be the go-to internal expert on ROMA to make adjustments and plan future improvements.

·         Provide reports that document donor impact information to be shared with a variety of OFS stakeholders including a weekly update to Schnuck Markets.

·         Monitor trends in the food industry to identify opportunities and threats.

·         Maintain accurate and up-to-date procedural manuals for operations and gleaning.

·         Willingness to assist with other OFS duties as required or as assigned.

Competencies:

·         Customer Focus: Embraces a client/donor-centric process in developing strategies. Brings together data/information to inform strategic decisions. Acts as a role model in demonstrating client and donor care principles.

·         Communications: Ability to proactively communicate clearly and with all levels of employees both verbally and in writing. Values employee diversity and concise communications.

·         Problem Solving: Uses logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions in a timely manner. Anticipates problems and develops proactive solutions. Solves problems when there are no available precedents, guidelines, or policies by drawing upon experience, research on best practices, and outreach to colleagues.

·         Accountability: Takes responsibility for self and team performance including celebrating successes and recognizing team members for noteworthy contributions. Addresses performance deficiencies and challenges and suggests improvements.

·         Collaboration: Creates collaborative opportunities across the organization. Inspires others to work together to achieve a common purpose. Establishes an atmosphere of mutual respect by encouraging a diversity of opinions, values, and perspectives.

·         Creative Thinking: Examines traditional strategies and practices, and proactively looks for new ideas and ways to improve products, services, and work processes and uses innovative thinking.

Qualifications:

·         Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college, with a major Business Management

·         Minimum of 3 years paid experience in a procurement capacity.

·         Proven ability to organize, plan, and carry out activities independently to meet specific timelines with proven record of accuracy in completing and reviewing data.

·         General knowledge of sound operating practices in the area of food warehousing, transportation, and inventory practices.

·         Proven ability to operate as a team player and establish and maintain good relationships with people of various ages, educational, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

·         Outstanding communication and presentation skills; ability to persuasively convey and build support for the mission of OFS to food/product donors, community partners, the public, and others.

·         Commitment to racial equity, and the ability to work with and understand the needs of diverse, multi-cultural populations.

·         Proven ability to plan, organize, and follow through on multiple projects, activities, and responsibilities to meet specific timelines with a proven record of acuity and agility.

·         Possession of a valid Missouri driver’s license and a clean DMV record. Willingness to drive personal vehicle, as necessary. Compensation for business mileage to be reimbursed at standard IRS rates.

·         Willingness to work beyond core office hours, including some evenings and weekends, when necessary.

To Apply:         Please send resume and cover letter to Chief Operating Officer Carlton Adams, Talent@OperationFoodSearch.org. No phone calls please.

Location:         1644 Lotsie Boulevard, Overland, MO 63132

Salary:             Commensurate with experience

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.