Procurement Director

Ornua Co-operative Limited•Town of Woodville, WI

About The Position

The Procurement Director is responsible for the strategic sourcing, negotiation, and procurement of all dairy and non‑dairy ingredients, packaging materials, consumables, and support services representing $350.0M in annual spend. This role develops and executes long‑term procurement strategies that balance inventory levels with market volatility to ensure profitability, supply continuity, and adherence to quality standards. Key responsibilities include conducting market analysis, building and managing strategic supplier partnerships, leading cost‑optimization and risk‑mitigation initiatives, reducing material obsolescence, and optimizing replenishment strategies to meet sales and inventory objectives. The position also provides leadership and direction to a team of six direct reports. You will report directly to the Vice President of Supply Chain, for Ornua Ingredients North America, headquartered in Hilbert, WI, with manufacturing facilities located in Hillsboro, Hilbert, and Whitehall, WI, as well as Byron, MN. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Research & Development (R&D), Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Food Safety & Quality. This integrated approach ensures we deliver tailored, high-performance solutions that meet the evolving needs of our manufacturing partners. The greatest strength of Ornua Ingredients lies in our people. Their commitment to customer success is matched only by their passion for our products and our ability to deliver innovative solutions with exceptional flavor, functionality, value, and quality. This spirit of innovation, knowledge sharing, and service excellence is woven into every aspect of our organization—from how we engage with customers to our reliability and responsiveness.

Requirements

An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Science, or a related field preferred.
7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in dairy product and commodity purchasing, ideally in a dairy or food‑ingredients manufacturing environment
Knowledge of pasteurized process cheese or willingness to learn is essential preferably within the food industr
Highly energetic and collaborative professional with excellent communication, negotiation, influencing, presentation, and product application demonstration skills.
Proven ability to manage complex supplier relationships with strong commercial acumen.
Skilled in project management, cross-functional collaboration, and problem-solving with a high level of analytical ability and attention to detail.
Attention to detail, ownership and accountability are key requirements.
Collaborative, ability to influence, enthusiastic, resilient with excellent communication skills and professionalism.
Demonstrates integrity, ownership, accountability, professionalism, and resilience; passionate and self-motivated.
Ability to work effectively with internal cross-functional teams at regional, national, and potentially global levels.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement sourcing strategies for dairy and non-dairy commodity ingredients
Lead supplier selection, contract negotiations, and performance management.
Monitor commodity markets and dairy industry trends to anticipate cost fluctuations and supply risks.
Develop and execute sourcing strategies for dairy and non-dairy commodities, negotiating contract pricing and terms with suppliers to secure favorable agreements and reduce costs.
Monitor supplier performance regarding quality, delivery, and compliance, initiating corrective actions when necessary.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure quality, reliability, and innovation
Conduct regular supplier evaluations and audits to ensure compliance with food safety and sustainability standards.
Maintain compliance with, and complete all required training associated with, the Supplier Approval Program
Identify cost-saving opportunities through value analysis, supplier consolidation, and process improvements.
Develop contingency plans to mitigate supply chain disruptions.
Collaborate with production or sales teams to forecast demand, maintain optimal inventory levels, and prevent shortages or excessive stock (distress).
Partner with R&D, Quality Assurance, Production, and Finance to align sourcing strategies with business goals.
Support new product development by sourcing innovative ingredients and materials.
Utilize ERP systems to manage procurement activities and generate reports.
Analyze spend data and market intelligence to inform strategic decisions.
Analyze dairy commodity markets, regulatory changes, and pricing trends to anticipate fluctuations and mitigate risk
Manage the category budget, track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as cost savings and supplier compliance, and ensure accurate invoicing.
Lead, mentor, and supervise junior buyers or procurement assistants, providing direction, training, and performance feedback
Represent Ornua’s brand and values with professionalism and integrity in all externa and internal interactions
Comply with all safety guidelines and regulatory standards, setting an example in maintaining high ethical standards and practices
Comply with all company purchasing policies and procedures
Comply with all laws and regulations for procured products and services of the company
Demonstrate exceptional adaptability, managing diverse tasks and responding proactively to evolving business needs
Recommend new processes or systems for improvement, implementation of new ideas and strategies.
Perform other duties and projects as assigned