Director, Purchasing and Contract Manufacturing

High Liner Foods; Halifax; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

High Liner Foods is seeking a Supply Chain Manager to lead supplier management and procurement initiatives. The role involves developing growth strategies, managing relationships with co-packers, and ensuring compliance with quality and safety standards. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in food manufacturing and proven leadership abilities, with opportunities for career growth and development.

Benefits

Pay for performance incentives

Employee & Family assistance programs

Wellness Programs

Retirement Planning

Disability Support

Family friendly Flex policies & Summer hours

Learning and mentorship opportunities

Safety focused work environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience in food-related manufacturing and contract manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of procurement principles and practices.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensure development of growth initiatives and supplier management.
• Manage commercial relationships with co-packers and contract manufacturers.
• Establish performance metrics for supplier performance.

Skills

Negotiation

Problem-solving

Communication

Leadership

Teamwork

Education

University degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or Operations Management

Tools

ERP and Planning tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

• Ensure development and implementation of growth initiatives and purchasing / negotiating strategies, along with day-to-day supplier management, to support enterprise objectives across key functions, including :
• Product Development :
• Work with process partners in Marketing and R&D to conduct opportunity assessments, qualify suppliers, address product development opportunities, and lead productivity improvement projects.
• Manage commercial relationships with co-packers and contract manufacturers to ensure high performance levels on material planning, production, product quality, food safety, transportation, inventory, customer service, regulatory policies, and cost requirements.
• Manufacturing / Distribution :
• Identify and develop the right suppliers to ensure best cost, quality, and delivery.
• Maintain adequate inventory of ingredients, packaging, production supplies, and finished products at competitive prices.
• Recommend hedging strategies for key commodities including energy, packaging materials, and agricultural ingredients.
• Engineering : support procurement of capex and construction services.
• IT, Marketing and Shared Services : support procurement of corporate goods and services.
• Establish and maintain measurable performance metrics for key activities including supplier performance, supplier quality, order fulfillment, and financial (AP) performance; Measure progress and develop corrective actions as needed. Additional measures should be put in place for contract manufacturing partners including food safety and customer service.
• Be the primary source for obtaining operational savings at supplier facilities; ensure savings are tracked and that initiatives meet profit plan and overall business objectives.
• Understand should-cost and cost -drivers, including short-and-long-term impacts.
• Lead commodity strategies in line with product development and corporate initiatives to improve supply chain efficiency; reduce total cost of supply chain management.
• Build and strengthen cross functional relationships between suppliers and internal process partners to foster trust.
• Aid in the development and execution of daily tactical activities such as inventory management, quality and service improvement, internal / external communications, and other supply chain management functions.
• Analyze manufacturing best practices and encourage suppliers to implement these practices.
• Be knowledgeable of the internal processes needed t0 bring products through commercialization.
• Work with the Legal Department on contract creation / management and with audit and other process partners to manage risk; Mitigate risk along the value chain, including raw materials / ingredients, packaging, inventory, and logistics.
• Ensure suppliers comply with High Liner Foods’ Supplier Code of Conduct.
• Manage and mentor a dynamic team of purchasing professionals.

Qualifications

• University degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, and / or Operations Management, or equivalent business experience.
• Significant experience in food-related manufacturing and contract manufacturing with diverse management experiences in operations, engineering, purchasing, strategic sourcing, and / or quality assurance, preferably in a strategic role in a mid- to large-size food manufacturer.
• Good understanding of manufacturing processes, and supply markets for frozen and ready-to-eat products, ingredients, packaging components, CAPEX, and associated commodities.
• Experience in all aspects of contract manufacturing, including ideation, product development, supplier identification, supplier development, product launch, and business planning.
• Good understanding of quality management principles (such as Good Manufacturing Principles), continuous improvement methodologies (such as Lean & Six Sigma), regulatory requirements (such as FDA, SQF, BRC, AIB), and industry best practices in relevant CPG sectors (frozen food manufacturing a plus).
• Multi-year experience developing contract manufacturing partners and / or co-packers in frozen and / or ready-to-eat foods; Solid track record managing third-party partners including contract manufacturing and / or co-packing.
• Strong knowledge of procurement principles, methods, practices, and techniques, including negotiating contracts, MSAs, SLAs, etc.; previous experience purchasing IT, marketing, and corporate services a plus.
• Proven leadership abilities with experience in managing and developing teams, fostering collaboration, and driving performance excellence in a cross-functional environment.
• Ability to coordinate multiple group efforts within the company to achieve objectives, including substantial reductions in material cost targets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, with awareness of deadlines.
• Ability to identify processes needing improvement, and to recommend improvements.

Additional Requirements

• Strong entrepreneurial drive, a business development mindset, and passion to succeed.
• Hands-on mentality, proven ability to work independently within a structured process, with self-motivation.
• Strong attention to detail and managing cross functional projects.
• Solid negotiation, conflict resolution, and people management skills.
• Excellent teamwork and team-building skills.
• Able to build and maintain lasting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including planning, marketing, product development, seafood procurement, operations, quality assurance, and food safety.
• Knowledge of cost analysis, fiscal management, and budgeting techniques.
• Familiarity with P&L management.
• Strong problem identification and problem resolution skills.
• Strong general management skills including presentation, strategic thinking, negotiating, organization, financial, analytical, and management.
• Previous experience with ERP and Planning tools; solid computer skills with focus on Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Expected travel for this role, 20-25%

Direct reports

• 4 direct reports; 9 indirect reports

What's in it for you?

Join High Liner Foods for a career where you shape your path, backed by great benefits, flexible work, and a culture of diversity, innovation, and sustainability. Immerse yourself in opportunities to make a real impact and grow with us in our mission to nourish lives. Start your adventure where endless possibilities to thrive together await.

• Pay for performance incentives
• Employee & Family assistance programs
• Wellness Programs
• Retirement Planning
• Disability Support
• Family friendly Flex policies & Summer hours
• Learning and mentorship opportunities
• Safety focused work environment

To learn more please visit our / / page

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