Food Purchasing Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Hours/Week Category: Regular Full Time

REPORTS TO: Chief Operating Office

PURPOSE: To lead all aspects of the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Food Acquisition program and Volunteer Program while meeting all Key Performance Indicators and Customer Service Requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Oversee and manage all the food sourcing and procurement activities across all material cost types. Lead, manage, develop, and mentor a team of six in food acquisition.
2. Manage all facets of the Volunteer Program with oversight of 3 full time and 3 part time team members who manage 20 K volunteers.
3. Using the organization’s strategic plan, work with other leaders to execute the plan.
4. Responsible for goal setting, organizational department structure and talent management for the food acquisition and volunteer groups. Provide clear communication and review objectives and goals routinely for both areas.
5. Oversee the annual work planning process and department budget for food acquisition.
6. Provide leadership in routine analysis and communication of acquisition status; programs; trends (in retail and commodities markets); best practices and other key indicators of food acquisition, storage, and material handling.
7. Oversee and manage all facets of the budgeted food spend including capital expenditures, with maintenance and understanding the Material Cost Types or MCT. Food Fund, COOP, Donated, Massachusetts Emergency Food Purchasing- MEFAP and Commodity Supplemental Food Program – CSFP and USDA commodities items.
8. Oversee the management of all vendors including product cost and freight cost. Oversee all donations to the Greater Boston Food Bank and when necessary, all Feeding America regional food banks.
9. Oversight of purchasing of all Massachusetts Food Banks.
10. Work Collaboratively with all Feeding America Food Banks especially the well-defined region of the New York and New England Cohort.
11. Produce and manage routine reports as required by Management, Feeding America, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and/or USDA.
12. Collaborate with the entire Warehouse/Transportation, Operations, IT, Finance, and Distribution Services teams.
13. Logistics oversight for purchasing, inbound, food handling and warehouse capacity.
14. Maintain all Budgets and Product Specifications for both purchased and donated food items.
15. Work collaboratively to represent GBFB with others in the Food Insecurity Realm.
16. Oversight for the entire Food Recovery and Food Rescue Program.
17. Manage relationships with local, national and community donors and vendors including MA grown members.
18. Ensure excellent relationship management with food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers deepening their relationships and involvement with GBFB.
19. Provide leadership and direction to team soliciting Enabling opportunities, local and national food donations, food drives, as well as other programs developed to expand GBFB’s ability to obtain quality products while reducing operating costs.
20. Lead the department in its close collaboration with Distribution Services to best plan logistics with food partners, including fast turnaround of short, coded products, high customer service levels for retail relationships and exceptional safe food handling practices.
21. Manage all aspects of the Volunteer Program which operates six days a week including safety, security, and customer experience.
22. Routinely review food offerings assuring that products acquired are those desired by member agencies and direct distribution programs.
23. Contribute to Revenue goals by ‘fundraising’ through respective food donors/partners and volunteer engagement.
24. Manage the activity of the Food Industry Council.
25. Ensure that Standard Operating Procedures are written and accurate.
26. Responsible for all IT systems integration.
27. Lead or support special projects and other duties as assigned by Senior Leadership.
28. Back up for the warehouse/logistics senior director.
29. Maintain active communication with regional food banks, Feeding America and relevant State and Federal government agencies regarding issues of food acquisition, nutritional requirements, logistics, safety, recalls and compliance.
30. Representing GBFB at selected public forums and meetings.

SKILLS and QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s Degree required, MBA highly desirable.
2. Experience in establishing and executing sound business practices and metrics including planning and analysis.
3. 15+ years’ food industry experience preferably in food sales, logistics or food procurement.
4. Demonstrated success in relationship building and management.
5. Highly organized with ability to successfully multi-task and meet deadlines.
6. Experience in public speaking and presentation.
7. Proven record of successfully working in highly collaborative and matrixed organizational environments.
8. Experience in handling complex budgets, food procurement, and primary purchase orders.
9. Demonstrated leadership and management skills including coaching, mentoring, team building, collaboration, and conflict management.
10. Strong customer service orientation.
11. Project Management Experience
12. Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated excellence in written and oral communications skills.
13. Demonstrated examples of strategic thinking and impact as well as analytical and critical thinking skills.
14. Strong computer skills in a Microsoft Office environment.
15. Ability and willingness to travel.
16. ServSafe® training or the willingness to obtain certification. HAACP and AIB experience is a plus.
17. A commitment to ending domestic hunger.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office environment.
• Ability to sit for up to 3 hours at a time.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.
• Ability the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
• Ability to travel based on business needs.

Work Environment

• The job is primarily performed indoors in a traditional office or warehouse setting.
• The job is occasionally performed indoors in the Warehouse with exposure to outside weather temperatures as well as potentially working in the refrigerated or freezer areas.

Work Location

• Hybrid: This role follows a hybrid schedule working in accordance with GBFB’s hybrid work policy on the team’s designated days. This schedule is subject to change based on the organization’s mission to end hunger.

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

GBFB provides equal employment opportunities to all Team Members and applicants for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, handicap, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.

No Team Member or applicant will be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination because they have engaged in or may engage in any of the following: (1) filing a complaint of employment discrimination; (2) assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review, hearing, or any other activity related to the administration of any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; (3) opposing any act or practice made unlawful by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity; or (4) exercising any other right protected by any federal, state or local law requiring equal opportunity.