Director, Procurement

Bagel Brands•Denver, CO

12d•$150,000 - $190,000•Hybrid

About The Position

At Bagel Brands (Einstein Bros. Bagels, Bruegger’s Bagels, Noah’s New York Bagels), we’re not just redefining breakfast—we’re building a community fueled by craveable food, genuine connections, and purpose-driven values. We Obsess Over Guests, Take Ownership of our impact, Support Each Other, and Have Fun while doing what we love. The Director of Procurement is responsible for all aspects of purchasing and strategic sourcing for the organization, leading the procurement team to achieve organizational goals and ensure a continuous supply of specified products at optimal cost and quality. This role manages vendor relationships, negotiates contracts, drives cost savings, and collaborates cross-functionally with Distribution, Quality Assurance, Logistics, Marketing, R&D, and Operations.

Requirements

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams and partner cross-functionally.
Strong and effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to multi-task, handle confidential information, and work independently with limited supervision.
Detail-oriented with strong project management and negotiation skills.
Well-rounded experience with purchasing, planning, and financial functions in a multi-unit, multi-brand, multi-region organization.
Bachelor’s degree required; minimum 7–10 years in supply chain, with 5+ years supervisory experience and food commodity purchasing experience.

Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
Own category and supplier relationship management, overseeing significant spend across various categories.
Employ strategic negotiation tactics to secure optimal total cost of ownership solutions, including complex agreements (IP protection, co-development, technology partnerships, maintenance contracts).
Manage commodity ingredient purchases and monitor key commodity markets; proactively mitigate risks (e.g., hedge positions).
Develop and maintain supplier KPIs and evaluation processes; conduct regular business reviews with suppliers and internal partners.
Forecast usage and costing models; maintain oversight of internal Cost of Goods model and report inflation changes.
Recommend sources of supply, maintain industry knowledge, and evaluate options to address market price fluctuations.
Oversee and support the team in executing RFP/RFQ’s including guiding data collection, analysis and strategic recommendations to the executive team.
Develop projects to drive cost out of the business year over year, maintaining quality and service integrity.
Maintain and update the Cost of Goods tracker; regularly communicate inflation risks, cost offset opportunities, and detailed commodity information to leadership.
Supplier & Contract Management
Provide strategic oversight and support to direct reports in managing supplier relationships, ensuring contract compliance, and monitoring inventory levels (especially critical and LTO items).
Facilitate contract management for assigned categories and suppliers; develop and manage supplier contract database and legal documents (NDAs, joint development agreements).
Develop contingency plans to mitigate risk of non-performance of sole-sourced vendors.
Partner with the Director of Quality Assurance to ensure supplier compliance with food safety standards and that products consistently meet defined specification metrics.
Ensure all contract pricing is entered monthly and communicated to distribution centers, with team-led processes in place to verify accuracy and adherence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Partner with Marketing, R&D, and Operations to source new supply lines and products for Limited Time Offers and new concept developments.
Assist in new product and LTO rollouts; recommend best practices in sourcing new concepts.
Resolve supplier-related restaurant/operations questions.
Team Leadership & Development
Lead, coach, and develop a team of four Category Managers
Foster strong collaboration with internal teams, especially Quality Assurance and Distribution, to ensure seamless supply chain operations
Promote open communication a culture of accountability within the team that also extends to our supplier base.
Encourage continuous improvement, curiosity to continue learning, and professional growth for all team members.
Set clear goals and expectations, regularly providing feedback and recognizing achievements to drive high performance.