Hybrid Director of Procurement at Northwest Harvest

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

Northwest Harvest (NWH) is an anti-racist, anti-oppression organization committed to transforming

an unjust food system into one that is more responsive and accountable to the communities most

impacted by discrimination. In addition to distributing food throughout Washington, Northwest

Harvest aims to shift public opinion, as well as impact institutional policies and societal practices that

perpetuate hunger, poverty, and disparities in our state.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Procurement (DP) directly engages with NWH’s goal of cutting hunger rates in half

by 2028 by being a creative and adaptive leader who is forward-looking and focused on measurable,

cost-effective results. This innovative systems-thinker is a key strategic partner and leader in the

Supply Chain (SC) department and across the organization; who starts with “yes” to create strategy aligned

programs and initiatives by providing the strategic vision for the Procurement team. The

DP builds healthy, dynamic teams that work well together, expanding relationships across the state,

and increasing the quality and efficiency of NWH’s procurement goals to distribute healthy, nutritious

food.

In addition, the successful incumbent in this role will be passionate about the mission of Northwest

Harvest (NWH), be able to ignite and empower the professional lives of the Procurement team to

be challenging and fulfilling, reduce hunger, actively and collaboratively serves on the Supply Chain

management team while putting into practice our Six Agreements and championing our Purpose-

Driven, Anti-Racist, Connected, and Interwoven (PACI) framework.

As a member of the Leadership Team (LT), the DP is responsible for contributing to the overall health

of the LT by working to build trust, engaging in constructive conflict, demonstrating commitment

to team decisions, holding oneself and others accountable, and focusing on results. As an LT

member, the DP holds these key responsibilities in support of our strategy work: know and be able to

communicate the Four Strategies; appreciate that our strategy work is central to the achievement of

Northwest Harvest’s vision to achieve equitable access to nutritious food for all in Washington State;

communicate to their team (and, when applicable, to external audiences) about the strategies; and

encourage their team to pursue engagement in the strategies directly or as a support function.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT

Initial Priorities

1. Increase the percentage of food donations YoY and over food purchases.

2. Maintain efficient and cost-effective movement of food from sourcing to distribution while establishing a strong food safety culture organization wide.

3. Serve as a leader and people manager who visibly embodies the values of Northwest Harvest

RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Provide the strategic vision for the Procurement Team, and for how the team will work well across the organization

• Practice adaptive leadership, demonstrating:

• Purpose-driven; Anti-racist; Connected; Interwoven to ensure alignment of Procurement team’s activities and goals with NWH’s mission. Lead with influence by modeling our PACI values and empowering others with their individual Operating Plans (IOP) and shared goals

• Team Leadership: lead and develop a diverse, multi-dimensional, and cohesive team

• Flexibility: thrive on managing variety and complexity

• Leadership: a visionary, able to lead by example; a strong listener, decision-maker, and effective communicator supporting the agreed upon organization agenda; leads through influence

• Motivation: supports and inspires leaders and staff to accomplish the mission of the organization while holding true to its stated values

• Innovation: forward-thinking; listens for emerging trends from staff and communities; imaginative and able to translate new ideas into action

• Represent the organization on external committees where strategic insight is needed

• Develop and maintain strategic working relationships in Washington State and nationally

• Champion race equity and inclusion by fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging

People Management & Team Building

• Build healthy, dynamic teams that work well together, with team members who understand their role and impact within and beyond the organization

• Act as a servant leader to directly supervise, support, professionally develop, hold accountable, and coach two (2) direct reports: Procurement Administrator and Agriculture Representative

• Work collaboratively across the department to foster and encourage a people- management culture that prioritizes unlocking the potential of all Sourcing & Procurement employees, and where every person feels connected to our mission and strategies, and is supported by adaptive, servant leaders

External Relationship Management

• Develop and manage a portfolio of external partners within various types of food and beverage organizations, operating statewide and beyond

• Research, manage and cultivate relationships with growers, processors and manufacturers, wholesalers and brokers, distribution and the retail sector to target and increase food donations, negotiate lower prices and enhance a wide range of procurement opportunities

• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Supply Chain (SDSC) and other internal partners to understand the landscape of food organizations, their needs, seasonality, and given history to build relationships, maintain an ongoing awareness of current and relevant market trends that affect availability of food and future sources of food, performs regular cost and scenario analysis and benchmarking

• Oversee and manage all aspects of procurement for the organization, including tracking and reporting needs

• Understand and be able to effectively articulate Northwest Harvest’s vision and mission to potential partners and donors

• Develop and implement a well-organized information system and utilize Northwest Harvest’s available technology tools to accurately record, analyze and systematically plan donor and vendor interactions

Oversee Lead Development for Food Donations

• Create a robust multi-year strategy to significantly increase in-kind donations of food and non-food items in collaboration with internal and external partners

• Build and implement a food donor engagement strategy to conduct systematic and ongoing prospecting activities

• Maintain a food donor pipeline for potential food and non-food items, including managing the database of donor profiles and donation history; providing appropriate follow-up to leads generated from Northwest Harvest staff and board or other sources

• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders as assigned or needed for the purpose of strategic engagement with product donors

• Through strategic and active cultivation, facilitate the migration of new and current donors to higher levels of donor engagement

• Maintain high-level standards regarding phone and virtual meeting interface with current donors and potential product donors

• Develop and implement appropriate face to face and phone solicitation strategies; catalog and provide appropriate details for organizational stories/anecdotes for the purposes of marketing and promotion of food donations

• Write compelling proposals and oversee the development of creative presentations and reports

Inventory Management & Quality Control

• Work closely with the Food Access Network (FAN), Transportation, Community Markets, and all Supply Chain teams to ensure timeliness and coordination with all internal departments regarding food procurement

• Continuously monitor external partner demand, comparing them against existing and projected supply, adjust plans to ensure quality, quantity and timing of product resources needed for field programs

• Ensure food safety in all facets of procurement, receiving, storage and distribution, and organization’s compliance with all governmental and nongovernmental regulations and requirements for food handling and processing

• Maintain and practice strict quality control standards in procurement to verify product specifications and quality. Identify root causes for variances, such as delinquent arrivals and quality issues. Provide resolution of incoming quality issues

• Develop and support sourcing strategies for Three Squares and Harvest Pantry, and other third- party partners

• Maintain close relationships with producers, manufacturers, and vendors to be aware of and capture all donation opportunities

Agricultural Procurement Oversight (Fresh & Frozen)

• Support the cultivation of working relationships with fresh/frozen food processors and cold storage companies as a source of donated or purchased produce

• Emphasize the development of Washington state outlets of purchased or donated produce, keeping a keen eye on in-state opportunities while still supporting out of state opportunities

• Support the level of engagement required to develop the relationships needed for increased product availability

Inventory Market Analysis & Regulatory Compliance

• Solicit and document feedback from food program partners and FAN to prioritize product/material needs

• Maintain current knowledge of food and commodity donation, best practices, IRS regulations and other sector information and requirements

Equity & Inclusion

• Demonstrate the initiative to learn and enhance skills that promote anti-racism, cultural competency and an understanding of oppression and its impact

• Participate in intentional learning efforts, including events relating to understanding and dismantling institutional racism and building cultural competency

RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Conduct regular discussions and collaboration with the Procurement Team, Leadership Team, Supply Chain management team, FAN, and Community Markets. Support of and participate in organization-wide teams developed to meet organizational goals. Focus on the removal of roadblocks for all staff, including removal of silos that hinder productivity and effectiveness.

External: Collaborative conversations with external stakeholders to promote alignment with strategy work

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

The ideal candidate will be a strong, results-oriented, accessible, and inclusive leader who remains fiercely dedicated to the mission of Northwest Harvest. Working closely with the Senior Director of Supply Chain and team, this person must demonstrate a steadfast commitment to growth through teamwork and collaboration. They will lead with integrity, professionalism, and a visible work ethic that inspires others. This individual will also be a passionate, action-oriented thought leader who thrives on making a tangible difference. They must excel in building strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and will ideally already possess relevant contacts. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, will ensure their ability to connect with audiences at all levels, presenting Northwest Harvest’s mission with confidence and clarity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A combination of the real-life experience, education, and training listed below, which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position. Successful completion of a background check is required.

Knowledge of

• Insight into the root causes of hunger

• Appreciation for the experiences of people living in poverty and with food insecurity

• Deep understanding of and commitment to Northwest Harvest’s mission, vision, and values

• Strong management and organizational skills, managing conflicting priorities and deadlines, and an ability to work well within teams

• Experience and success in servant leadership: managing, inspiring, engaging, professional development, and holding accountable supply chain team members within a collaborative work environment

• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams

• Proficiency with other organizational platforms such as ADP, SharePoint, and

• Microsoft Dynamics NAV systems, as well as other common video conference platforms, such as Zoom

• Supply chain and sourcing & procurement management principles, practices, and strategies

• Familiarity with relevant laws and regulations, including environmental, safety, and import/export guidelines

• Knowledge of the latest industry trends and emerging technologies that can drive efficiency and reduce distribution costs

• Knowledge of food budget projections and Profit & Loss (P&L) management

• Knowledge of business functions and systems such as strategic development, planning, financial budgeting and forecasting

Ability To

• Understand individuals who have experienced poverty or food insecurity

• Demonstrate interest and commitment to supporting equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations, and people living with disabilities

Leadership

• As an adaptive, servant leader, practice collaborative, persuasive, and transformative leadership styles, and lead through influence rather than relying solely on direct-line authority

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and leadership to ensure a high degree of mutual accountability

• Navigate and lead through ambiguity while keeping team members engaged and encouraged

• Ask questions to understand the merits of different approaches and shift strategies in response to the demands of a situation

• Possess integrity, maturity, and ethical awareness

• Handle sensitive information with strict confidentiality

• Problem-solve in a collaborative, efficient, and effective manner

• Analyze issues, synthesize information, make evidence-based decisions, and learn from mistakes

• Cultivate and steward professional relationships with diverse constituencies

Procurement Management

• Create and implement the vision and strategy of the Procurement team

• Lead all Procurement management activities and initiatives, including procuring food stocks, creating and managing budgets

• Collaborate with internal partners for cost optimization of food and non-food items purchased and associated logistical needs

• Support and maintain food safety programs and certification to all organizational standard operating procedures and ensure compliance with government regulations and third-party certification agencies

Equity and Connectedness

• Adopt the PACI (purpose-driven, anti-racist, connected, and interwoven) framework and practice the Six Agreements

• Support equity and inclusion for members of historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ populations, and people living with disabilities

Communication

• Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing

• Listen and ask questions to understand

•Communicate complex supply chain concepts and issues and applicable legal requirements, policies and procedures to staff and leaders

Education and Training

Bachelor of Arts or Sciences degree in business, supply chain management, procurement, or a related field or an equal combination of education and relevant work experience with a personal orientation as a life-long learner.

Experience

Minimum of seven (7) + years’ experience in procurement, sourcing, or food manufacturing, with three (3) + years of people management experience.

Desired Qualifications

•Non- Profit experience is desired but not required

•Prior experience with managing food safety programs is a plus

•The ability to speak additional language(s) is desired but not required

Equal Employment Opportunity & Non-Discrimination

Northwest Harvest (NWH) is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. NWH does not discriminate with regards to hiring, assignment, promotion or other conditions of staff employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other status protected under local, state or federal law.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, upon request, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of our positions.

For benefits information, please visit https://www.northwestharvest.org/about-us/careers/