.png){kind=logo}
Job Description
Job Title: Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist, Private Brands
Location: Corporate
Department: Merchandising
Compensation & Bonus Level: Specialist
Job Summary: The Senior Strategic Sourcing Specialist, Private Brands develops and executes the sourcing strategies for Private Brands. Identifies, evaluates, and negotiates with manufacturing partners to build a competitive, high-quality, and resilient Private Brand supply base. This role owns the procurement lifecycle for new and existing products, from sourcing strategy and supplier discovery through competitive bidding, contracting, onboarding, launch readiness, and ongoing performance management. Leads RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs; assesses supplier capabilities and risk; develops cost and commodity models; and negotiates pricing, contracts, and commercial terms. The role partners with suppliers and internal teams on forecasting, production planning, inventory, logistics, value engineering, supply continuity, and contingency planning across domestic and international manufacturing networks.
Principal Duties:
Develop and execute sourcing strategies for Private Brand categories that support quality, innovation, cost, service, growth, and supply continuity objectives.
Manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for new products, including supplier discovery, competitive bidding, award, contracting, onboarding, and launch coordination.
Lead strategic sourcing and supplier selection across the Private Brand portfolio. Evaluate supplier capabilities, quality systems, capacity, logistics, and continuity plans.
Lead RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs; define requirements, evaluate responses, document decisions, and communicate standards and expectations to prospective partners.
Identify and evaluate domestic and international manufacturing partners through market research, capability assessments, facility evaluations, and risk reviews.
Negotiate pricing, contracts, service levels, and commercial terms that deliver competitive total cost and sustainable supplier partnerships.
Develop commodity, component, and logistics based cost models; conduct should-cost, scenario, and market analyses to guide sourcing decisions.
Partner with Quality Assurance and Legal to ensure suppliers meet food safety, regulatory, quality, contractual, and company requirements.
Manage supplier onboarding and cross-functional commercialization activities to ensure clear ownership, timely decisions, and launch readiness.
Partner with suppliers and internal teams on demand forecasts, production schedules, replenishment, inventory builds, staging, and distribution planning.
Analyze sales, inventory, and service trends across distribution points to improve forecast accuracy, availability, working capital, and portfolio planning.
Manage supply disruptions and logistics risks, and establish contingency plans, secondary sources, and mitigation actions where appropriate. Apply forecasting, inventory, production, and replenishment expertise to protect product availability.
Identify and deliver cost savings and value engineering opportunities without compromising product quality, safety, customer experience, or brand standards.
Establish supplier scorecards, sourcing KPIs, business reviews, and sustainable reporting tools to monitor performance, timelines, savings, risk, and corrective actions. Lead cross-functional project plans and executive updates, translating complex sourcing data into clear recommendations, decisions, and mitigation plans.
Partner closely with the Private Brands Manager and cross-functional stakeholders to support innovation, portfolio growth, and ongoing supply-base optimization.
Communicate clearly, influence stakeholders, and lead complex sourcing initiatives.
Essential Functions:
Ability to work well individually as well as in a team environment
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Excellent customer service skills
Ability to work with little or no supervision
Detail oriented and excellent organizational skills
Excellent analytical, influencing and problem solving skills
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and independently
Excellent interpersonal skills
Self motivated, proven self starter with demonstrated ability to make decisions
Excellent negotiation skills
Ability to analyze costs, supplier information, market data, and business trends to support sourcing decisions.
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Finance, Logistics, or a related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.
5+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier management, supply chain, or a related field; food, retail, consumer products, or Private Brand experience is preferred.
Experience supporting RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and onboarding activities.
Working knowledge of forecasting, inventory management, production planning, replenishment, or logistics.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365; experience with analytical, project management, AI-enabled, or JIRA tools is a plus.
Wawa will provide reasonable accommodation to complete an application upon request, consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact our Associate Service Center at [email protected].
Wawa, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Wawa maintains a work environment in which Associates are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Associates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Finance, Logistics, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
- 5+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, supplier management, supply chain, or a related field
- Experience in food, retail, consumer products, or Private Brands
- Experience supporting RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, and onboarding activities
- Working knowledge of forecasting, inventory management, production planning, replenishment, or logistics
- Ability to analyze costs, supplier information, market data, and business trends
- Strong organization, project coordination, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft 365
- Experience with analytical, project management, AI-enabled, or JIRA tools
Wawa Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Wawa and has not been reviewed or approved by Wawa.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement offerings combine a 401(k) match with an employee stock ownership plan that can build significant long‑term value for eligible associates. The ESOP is repeatedly positioned as a standout component of total rewards for those who stay longer.
-
Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage are available with multiple prescription levels, alongside company‑provided life and disability coverage for full‑time associates and options for short and long‑term disability. Wellness screenings, health coaching, and tax‑advantaged accounts further support overall wellbeing.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid Time Off and paid parental leave are offered to eligible associates. Paid breaks and scheduling flexibility are also emphasized to support work‑life needs.
Wawa Insights
What We Do
Here at Wawa, the sky's the limit. Voted as “America’s Favorite Convenience Store,” Wawa operates a chain of convenience retail stores located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Washington D.C. We're fast-growing and expanding in 2025 and 2026. Today, Wawa is your all day, every day stop for fresh, built-to-order foods, beverages, coffee, fuel services, and surcharge-free ATMs. We're making every day a little more fulfilling—one smile, hoagie, and experience at a time. We know that it's our Associates who put the "wow" in working at Wawa, so we're invested in giving them the encouragement they need to take flight. By providing flexibility and support, at work and beyond, we create an environment where everyone can thrive. We believe that with the right ingredients to grow and build a career—and a little wind beneath the wings—our Associates can reach new heights. Guided by our commitment to community, Wawa's 46K+ Associates take pride in putting people first, making days brighter, and bringing joy to our friends and neighbors. With opportunities such as volunteering, charitable giving, and events, we're able to extend care beyond the workplace, building stronger neighborhoods and long-lasting relationships. We have benefits that fuel well-being, including:* • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) • Tuition Reimbursement • 401(k) Plan • Medical/Dental/Prescription Coverage • Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care & Dependent Care) • Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs • Employee Credit Union • Paid Time Off • Employee Resource Groups • Parental Leave • Wellness Programs *eligibility requirements may apply Got growth goals? Looking for a supportive flock? Soar with us!
