Vice President Procurement

• Newly created leadership position to support EarthFresh's growth
• Lead sourcing, grower relations, inventory strategy, and procurement operations
• On-site role in Burlington, ON with 25% travel

The Vice President of Procurement (CAN/US) will provide executive leadership and strategic direction for all procurement functions across North America sourcing markets. This role is accountable for developing and executing procurement strategies that ensure consistent supply, optimize cost structures, and strengthen grower and supplier partnerships across the potato and fresh produce supply chain.

The VP will lead a geographically dispersed team and oversee sourcing, grower relations, inventory strategy, and procurement operations, while working cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Quality to drive profitability, service excellence, and sustainable growth. This position plays a critical role in aligning procurement with company-wide commercial objectives and long-term strategic initiatives. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field
• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in procurement, sourcing, or agricultural supply chain management (potato/produce industry strongly preferred)
• Proven success leading multi-site and/or North America procurement operations
• Deep expertise in fresh produce sourcing, crop cycles, and supply planning
• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated experience managing P&L impact and driving cost optimization initiatives
• Exceptional negotiation skills with experience managing complex supplier and grower networks
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams across multiple regions
• Advanced analytical, financial, and forecasting capabilities
• Strong communication skills with executive presence and the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience operating in cross-border sourcing environments (US and Canada markets) preferred
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently across North America as required

KEY LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Establish and execute the procurement strategy aligned with corporate growth and customer commitments
• Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to broader business strategy, planning, and execution
• Build a high-performance procurement organization with strong bench strength and succession planning
• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence
• Ensure alignment between procurement, sales forecasts, and operational execution
  

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Global Procurement Strategy

• Develop and implement comprehensive sourcing strategies across North America markets
• Ensure consistent, high-quality supply while optimizing cost, reliability, and risk mitigation
• Identify diversification opportunities to strengthen supply chain resilience

2. Grower & Supplier Network Management

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with growers, packers, and key suppliers
• Expand and optimize the grower network to support growth objectives and market demands
• Lead contract negotiations, pricing strategies, and long-term supply agreements

3. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop regional procurement teams across the US and Canada
• Establish clear performance metrics, accountability structures, and development plans
• Foster a collaborative, results-driven culture aligned with company values

4. Supply Planning & Inventory Optimization

• Oversee inventory positioning, storage strategies, and crop movement across regions
• Align procurement planning with sales forecasts and operational capacity
• Minimize shrink, waste, and supply disruptions through proactive management

5. Financial & Performance Management

• Own procurement budgets, cost structures, and margin optimization initiatives
• Analyze market trends, cost drivers, and pricing strategies to enhance profitability
• Establish and track KPIs related to cost, service levels, quality, and supplier performance

6. Quality & Compliance Oversight

• Ensure all sourced product meets company and customer quality standards
• Partner closely with Quality Assurance and Food Safety teams to maintain compliance
• Support continuous improvement in product consistency and specifications

7. Risk Management & Market Intelligence

• Monitor global market conditions, crop forecasts, weather impacts, and supply risks
• Develop contingency plans and alternative sourcing strategies
• Provide market insights to executive leadership and commercial teams

8. Claims & Issue Resolution

• Oversee claims management processes with growers and suppliers
• Ensure timely, fair, and effective resolution of quality or supply issues

9. Program Development & Growth Initiatives

• Lead the expansion of grower programs and proprietary supply agreements
• Identify and execute opportunities to increase supply chain efficiency and scale
• Support new product development and category expansion initiatives

10. Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Drive process improvements across procurement systems, tools, and workflows
• Leverage data and technology to enhance forecasting, sourcing decisions, and reporting
• Implement best practices in agricultural procurement and supply chain management

11. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales to align procurement strategies with customer demand and pricing
• Collaborate with Operations on storage, logistics, and distribution planning
• Work with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting, and performance reporting

12. Additional Responsibilities