Supplier Programs Director

REMOTE • CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES

Supplier Programs • Purchasing • Grocery

Are you a strategic thinker passionate about building resilient supply chains and fostering strong supplier relationships? We're looking for a Supplier Programs Director to lead and grow NCG’s supplier initiatives.

Come join National Co+op Grocers’ (NCG) collective movement towards a just, resilient and regenerative food system that is accessible for all! We are a business services cooperative that helps community-owned grocery stores thrive—strengthening local economies, promoting sustainable food systems, and empowering consumers. We are revolutionizing the grocery industry to make it work better for people and the planet!

This position will oversee the development, implementation, and management of supplier programs and agreements, drive cross functional collaboration and ensure strategic alignment across NCG’s distribution network. This is an ideal position for a results-oriented, experienced procurement professional with strong leadership skills and a deep understanding of retail grocery operations. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop annual and multi-year Supplier Programs work plan and budget aligned with NCG’s strategic priorities and in coordination with the Purchasing Senior Director.
•  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align sourcing strategies with in-store programming and business objectives.
• Allocate resources proportional to the strategic importance of each distribution relationship with a special focus on NCG’s primary cost of goods distributor.
• Develop new frameworks to support programs and initiatives in emerging areas of NCG focus.
• Lead contract development, implementation and renewal process through consummation, including creation of contract development timetable and responsibilities, in coordination with the Purchasing Senior Director.
• Drive rapid service and program adaptations to mitigate adverse impacts attributable to supply chain disruptions in alignment with department-wide responses led by Purchasing Senior Director.
• Manage escalations related to service-level issues, intervening as needed to resolve concerns and preserve supplier relationships and partnerships, coordinating with the Purchasing Senior Director on cross-department or high impact matters.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, supply chain management, or related field, or equivalent professional experience demonstrating at least 12 years of progressive experience in procurement, distribution, or supplier relationship management.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in distribution, procurement, purchasing, or supplier/vendor relationship management.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading teams or supervising staff in a professional or program focused setting.
• Strong understanding of retail grocery operations.
• Extensive knowledge of purchasing practices and procedures in order to design, negotiate, implement and manage supplier agreements that drive financial performance, operational efficiency, and strengthen strategic supplier partnerships in complex multi-stakeholder environments.
• Ability to use negation skills to lead high level and strategic supplier negotiations in coordination with senior leadership.
• Proven experience building and managing commercial relationships, including end-to-end contract development and execution.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, revenue forecasting, and managing expense and revenue streams.
• Up to 30% of business travel is required, including overnights and weekends.

Compensation & Benefits

NCG offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, as an example:

• 4 weeks Paid Time Off
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with company contributions
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• Company-paid identity theft protection
• Matching 401(k) plan

The salary for this position is $178,247.

Workstation Options

• Home Office (Contiguous U.S.): Eligible if within 100 miles of a major airport and has sufficient internet bandwidth and mobile phone service.
• St. Paul, MN Office: Workstations available at 2610 University Ave W, with free parking and access to the Green Line Light Rail (Westgate Station).

Accessibility

NCG is committed to providing equal access to all interested candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact (866) 709-2667 ext. 2817 or email careers@ncg.coop for assistance.

Our goal is to attract and retain qualified talent and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any characteristic protected by applicable law.

 No recruiters or agencies please.