Executive Leader, Seafood Purchasing

Job Description
Whole Foods Market is looking for an experienced seafood purchasing expert that is passionate and knowledgeable in all things seafood sourcing! Oversees and monitors ongoing operations, evaluates supplier performance and works with key stakeholders internally and externally to address and mitigate risk, resolve issues and ensure a broad and shared understanding of supply chain objectives and priorities. Someone who wishes to apply their expertise and skills to empower a mission-driven company aimed to set the standards in food retail; a company who also embraces their purpose to co-create a world where each of us, our communities, and our planet can flourish - and make a difference!

Responsibilities:
- Serves as business owner for the WFM Seafood Procurement processes, policies and operations.

- Oversees development and implementation of sourcing strategies, policies and practices throughout the company that ensure quality, cost, and delivery expectations are met.

- Negotiates with multiple suppliers on key commodities throughout the year.

- Partner with Quality Standards to further the development of our sustainable sourcing program.

- Directs and evaluates the activities of leaders and Team Members performing procurement activities.

- Lead, develop and mentor Seafood purchasing Team.

- Drive clarity and visibility to project performance (status, risks, dependencies) with business partners, technical teams, and software providers, communicating appropriately with each group.

- Facilitate data-driven, customer-driven decisions to advance our capabilities and optimize roadmaps.

- Partner with both internal and external business partners to keep work aligned, to foster collaboration and learning, and to actively prevent silos, duplicate work, and dead-end solutions.

- Oversee and monitor purchasing office operations to drive continuous improvement.

- Monitors procurement practices and outcomes to identify:
- Customer satisfaction levels and trends,

- Inventory trends, turns, and forecast accuracy,

- Delivery performance,

- Planning parameters (cycle time, yield) and how they impact delivery performance and inventory levels,

- Cost reduction opportunities across all operations,

- Farmer, fisherman, vendor, and supplier quality,

- Areas of success and/or concern.

- Advises team on policy, direction, and philosophy.

- Plans, estimates, staffs, organizes and monitors significant task and project activity.

Skills:
- A passion for sourcing sustainable high quality seafood from around the globe

- Demonstrates a clear understanding of WFMs core business.

- Understanding of current WFM Global Seafood Purchasing processes.

- Engages with other leaders to design, maintain and champion the mission, vision, and strategy of the organization.

- Defines, develops and implements initiatives to enhance customer experience.

- Develops deep, credible relationships with senior-level executives, both inside and outside current areas of responsibility.

- Serves as trusted advisor internally and externally from a procurement and supply chain management perspective.

- Engages with internal and external stakeholders to define, clarify and resolve issues related to supply management and performance expectations.

- Engages with other leaders to formulate the organizations long-term strategic direction.

- Defines strategies and approaches to empower and equip team members to be effective in their interactions with internal and external stakeholders.

- Identifies gaps in strategic understanding, formulates resolution recommendations and delivers clear and compelling communication.

- Shifts comfortably between big picture strategic thinking and the tactics required to achieve outcomes.

- Influences broad organizational strategic direction and planning on a go-forward basis.

- Demonstrates nuanced understanding of the WFM business, food retail industry and the business models of key strategic partners and competitors.

- Able to assess how key functions, processes and operating models impact the business; delivers recommendations on how to optimize.

- Able to connect the dots across markets, customers, suppliers and programs to identify interdependencies and long-term growth opportunities.

- Persistent and unstoppable pursuit of excellence

- Intellectual curiosity

- Travel up to 30% of the time

Education & Experience:
- BA/BS degree and 8-10 years relevant experience OR equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

- Graduate degree preferred.

- 4-6 years leadership experience

At Whole Foods Market, we provide a fair and equal employment opportunity for all Team Members and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic. Whole Foods Market hires and promotes individuals solely based on qualifications for the position to be filled and business needs.