Manager, Food & Packaging Procurement

Papa Johns•Louisville, KY

About The Position

Papa John’s is seeking a strategic, results-driven Manager, Food & Packaging Procurement to lead sourcing and category management initiatives across food ingredients, packaging, and related supply categories. This role is responsible for developing and executing procurement strategies that optimize spend, ensure supply continuity, strengthen supplier partnerships, and support operational excellence across the organization. The successful candidate will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver sustainable cost savings, manage supplier performance, identify market opportunities, and ensure the highest standards of quality, food safety, and sustainability.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field required.
Minimum of 5 years of procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management experience.
Proven track record of delivering cost savings, negotiating contracts, and managing supplier relationships.
Experience leading RFI/RFP processes and cross-functional sourcing initiatives.
Strong negotiation and contract management skills are required.
Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities.
Experience with spend analysis, cost modeling, and supplier performance management.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Effective communication and presentation skills.
Ability to influence stakeholders and build consensus across multiple functions.
Knowledge of food industry standards, supply chain management, and procurement best practices.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Experience within the foodservice, restaurant, manufacturing, consumer products, or related industries preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement sourcing strategies that align with business objectives and maximize value across food and packaging categories.
Manage supplier portfolios to ensure optimal quality, service, innovation, and cost competitiveness.
Conduct market and industry analyses to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and emerging suppliers.
Utilize should-cost modeling and market intelligence to support strategic sourcing decisions and negotiations.
Lead sourcing projects from strategy development through implementation and supplier onboarding.
Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key suppliers and industry partners.
Negotiate contracts, pricing agreements, service levels, and commercial terms that deliver measurable value.
Evaluate and qualify new suppliers based on capability, quality, reliability, cost, risk, and sustainability criteria.
Establish supplier performance metrics and conduct regular business reviews to drive continuous improvement.
Develop and lead competitive bidding processes, including RFI, RFQ, and RFP initiatives.
Analyze proposals and lead supplier selection efforts in partnership with cross-functional stakeholders.
Ensure sourcing decisions align with operational requirements, financial targets, and long-term strategic objectives.
Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Finance, Marketing, and Product Innovation teams to support business initiatives.
Translate business needs into procurement strategies that support growth, service, and profitability goals.
Facilitate stakeholder alignment throughout supplier evaluation, selection, and implementation processes.
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks related to availability, pricing, logistics, and supplier performance.
Develop contingency plans and ensure supply continuity for critical food and packaging categories.
Drive process improvements, innovation opportunities, and operational efficiencies throughout the supply chain.
Monitor supplier performance data and implement corrective actions when necessary.