Director of Procurement and Innovation

Company Description:
Coast to Coast Distribution is a sub entity to Greater Austin Merchant Association, Inc., one of the leading independent convenience/gas store cooperatives in the nation. GAMA provides many benefits and values to its members. GAMA operates Coast to Coast as a full-service warehouse and distribution center supplying CPG products and services to the convenience store industry and other wholesalers and distributors across the country.

Job Description

Director of Procurement & Innovation

General Summary:
Reports to: SVP/CCSO
Responsible for leading the organization’s procurement and product innovation functions, including strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract negotiations, product development, and new product initiatives. Ensures procurement and innovation strategies support organizational objectives related to profitability, inventory productivity, service levels, and customer needs.

Primary Responsibility:
Leads the organization’s procurement and innovation strategies across multiple product categories. Develops strategic supplier partnerships, negotiates competitive programs and agreements, identifies new product and market opportunities, and oversees initiatives from evaluation through implementation. Uses financial and operational data to optimize product assortment, improve profitability, strengthen supply continuity, and deliver value to the organization and its customers.

Essential Functions:
• Develops and executes procurement and sourcing strategies aligned with company financial and operational objectives
• Sources, evaluates, selects, and manages suppliers based on product quality, cost, service, reliability, and overall value
• Leads negotiations related to product costs, contracts, payment terms, rebates, allowances, promotional funding, and supplier programs
• Develops and maintains strategic supplier relationships and establishes performance expectations and accountability
• Analyzes sales, margins, profitability, inventory performance, service levels, and market trends to support purchasing and assortment decisions
• Identifies opportunities to improve product costs, profitability, inventory productivity, and overall category performance
• Identifies and evaluates new products, brands, programs, and emerging market opportunities relevant to the convenience and CPG industries
• Leads new product and innovation initiatives from business case development and evaluation through implementation and post-launch performance review
• Coordinates new item introductions with appropriate departments to ensure accurate item setup, inventory planning, pricing, operational readiness, and communication
• Partners with Supply Chain and MRP to support demand planning, purchasing strategies, inventory availability, and appropriate inventory levels
• Collaborates with cross-functional departments to evaluate and optimize product assortments based on profitability, sales performance, service levels, warehouse capacity, and customer requirements
• Monitors supplier performance, including fill rates, lead times, cost competitiveness, product quality, and service levels, and addresses performance issues as necessary
• Establishes, tracks, and reports key procurement, supplier, and innovation performance metrics
• Leads supplier business reviews and communicates performance expectations, opportunities, and corrective actions
• Manages, develops, and evaluates Procurement Department staff while establishing clear objectives and accountability
• Manages departmental budgets, priorities, projects, and strategic initiatives
• Provides senior management with analysis, recommendations, and performance reporting related to procurement, supplier performance, profitability, and innovation
• Maintains awareness of industry trends, competitive activity, consumer preferences, and emerging product categories
• Supports quality control, regulatory compliance, product integrity, and recall initiatives in coordination with appropriate departments and suppliers
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Experience and Skills:
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, category management, strategic sourcing, or related consumer packaged goods functions in the convenience industry
• Leadership or management experience with demonstrated ability to develop teams and drive accountability
• Strong experience in supplier negotiations, contract management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management
• Strong understanding of CPG, wholesale distribution, convenience retail
• Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate sales, margins, profitability, inventory performance, and business opportunities
• Experience evaluating and implementing new products, programs, or strategic initiatives
• Strong negotiation, project management, planning, and organizational skills
• Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, solve problems, make sound business decisions, and effectively manage multiple priorities
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Experience with ERP, WMS, purchasing, or inventory management systems preferred (SAP/M4N)

Educational Requirements:
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Physical Requirements:
• May be standing or sitting for extended periods of time
• Occasional light travel
• Extended periods of time working in front of a computer monitor
• Some days of prolonged walking The above statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities necessary to describe the principal functions of the job, as identified, and shall not be considered an exhaustive list of job responsibilities which may be inherent in the job. Responsibilities are subject to change. CCD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.