Director of Procurement, Canada

EarthFresh; Burlington; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

You will be responsible for optimizing procurement processes, managing budgets, and guiding programs that expand EarthFresh’s footprint in Canada. Travel within Canada and the US will be required as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Agriculture, Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and mentor the Canadian procurement team.
• Develop, implement, and manage strategic sourcing programs and long-term procurement strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Canadian growers and vendors.
• Oversee inventory levels and crop movement across Canada to ensure supply and minimize waste.
• Monitor and report on KPIs related to procurement operations and profitability.
• Manage procurement budgets and cost drivers to improve departmental profitability.
• Ensure all procured product meets EarthFresh quality standards.
• Oversee end-to-end claims process with growers and suppliers as needed.
• Oversee grower holdings and expand EarthFresh’s program footprint across Canada.
• Identify and implement waste and shrink reduction initiatives across procurement lifecycle.
• Drive departmental performance through continuous improvement and leadership excellence.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Grower relations

Negotiation skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Agriculture, Business, Supply Chain Management

Job description

OBJECTIVE

Reporting to the Vice President of Procurement, the Director of Procurement Canada will lead our Canadian procurement operations. This role will be primarily responsible for overseeing all sourcing activities, managing grower relationships, and driving performance within our Canadian procurement team. This is a key leadership role focused on optimizing procurement processes, improving profitability, and ensuring quality standards across our supply chain.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree/Diploma in Agriculture, Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field

Experience & Skills:

• Minimum 7-10 years of procurement or agricultural supply chain experience, with significant experience in the potato industry strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams in a fast-paced, results-driven environment
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills with growers and vendors
• Strategic thinker with solid financial and analytical acumen
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally with sales, operations, and quality teams
• Willingness and ability to travel within Canada & US as needed

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Team Leadership - Lead, coach, and mentor the Canadian procurement team, fostering a high-performance culture aligned with company values and objectives.
2. Strategic Sourcing & Planning - Develop, implement, and manage strategic sourcing programs and long-term procurement strategies to ensure consistent, cost-effective, and high-quality supply.
3. Grower Relationship Management - Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Canadian growers, supporting their development and increasing participation in EarthFresh programs.
4. Inventory & Crop Management - Oversee inventory levels and crop movement across Canada to ensure optimal supply chain flow and minimize waste and shrink.
5. Performance Management - Monitor and report on key KPIs related to procurement operations, ensuring targets are met or exceeded.
6. Profitability Oversight - Manage procurement budgets, analyze cost drivers, and implement strategies to enhance departmental profitability.
7. Quality Assurance - Ensure all procured product meets EarthFresh strict quality standards, working closely with quality and operations teams.
8. Claims Management – Lead and maintain accountability for the end-to-end claims process, ensuring timely and effective resolution. Provide guidance and support to the team, and engage directly with growers and suppliers when escalation is required.
9. Grower Holdings & Program Development - Oversee grower holdings and work proactively to expand EarthFresh’s program footprint across Canada.
10. Waste & Shrink Reduction - Identify and implement initiatives to reduce waste and shrink throughout the procurement lifecycle.
11. Departmental Performance - Drive the overall performance of the Canadian procurement department through continuous improvement initiatives and leadership excellence.

1. Other duties as required by the VP, Procurement.