Position Overview
Keany Produce & Gourmet is seeking a Director of Procurement to lead sourcing, purchasing, and vendor strategy across our produce portfolio, non-produce categories and retail programs. Operating multiple distribution facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southern United States, Keany is a premier distributor known for quality, service, and long-standing vendor relationships.
This role is critical to ensuring product quality, supply continuity, competitive cost structure, and strong alignment with sales and operations.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Procurement Leadership
- Develop and execute procurement strategies for fresh produce, select non-produce categories and retail programs - aligned with company margin, service, and growth objectives.
- Lead purchasing activities across all distribution facilities, ensuring consistency while allowing for regional market nuances.
- Establish and maintain strategic relationships with growers, shippers, and national suppliers.
- Oversee contract negotiations, pricing programs, and vendor performance standards.
Market Intelligence & Sourcing
- Monitor produce markets, seasonality, weather impacts, and supply trends.
- Leverage market intelligence to guide pricing strategy, promotions, and product substitutions.
- Identify new sourcing opportunities and alternative suppliers to strengthen overall offerings.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner closely with Sales, Operations, Quality Assurance, and Finance to align procurement decisions with customer needs and operational realities.
- Support sales initiatives by ensuring consistent supply, competitive cost structures, and differentiated product offerings.
- Collaborate with Quality Assurance to uphold food safety, traceability, and product specifications.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and develop a high-performing procurement team.
- Establish clear goals, performance metrics, and professional development paths for procurement staff.
- Promote a culture of integrity, urgency, and continuous improvement.
Financial & Performance Management
- Manage procurement budgets, gross margin targets, and inventory risk.
- Analyze vendor performance, cost trends, and purchasing efficiencies to drive continuous improvement.
- Provide leadership with reporting and insights related to procurement performance and market conditions.
- 5+ years of procurement experience in a distribution environment (Produce, Specialty Products, Retail).
- Proven leadership experience managing multi-location or regional procurement operations.
- Deep understanding of produce markets, grower relationships, and seasonality.
- Strong negotiation, analytical, and financial acumen.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments in a fast-paced, service-driven environment.
- Willingness to travel regularly to distribution facilities, suppliers, and growing regions.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of procurement experience in a distribution environment (Produce, Specialty Products, Retail)
- Proven leadership experience managing multi-location or regional procurement operations
- Deep understanding of produce markets, grower relationships, and seasonality
- Strong negotiation, analytical, and financial acumen
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments in a fast-paced environment
- Willingness to travel regularly to distribution facilities, suppliers, and growing regions
What We Do
P.J.K. Food Service, LLC, doing business as Keany Produce & Gourmet, is a family-owned wholesale produce distributor based in Landover, Maryland. Serving the Mid-Atlantic region since 1978, the company specializes in the wholesale distribution of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and specialty items to high-end restaurants, hotels, and schools.
