Manager of Purchasing & Supply Chain at Swensons Drive-in Restaurants, LLC

Description

The Manager of Purchasing & Supply Chain supports the profitability and growth of the organization by overseeing the day-to-day procurement of food, beverage, restaurant supplies (paper and chemicals), equipment, and smallwares. This role manages vendor relationships, monitors inventory and distribution, and supports cost control initiatives to ensure quality products, reliable supply, and compliance across all categories.

The Manager will work closely with Culinary, Operations, Marketing, and Facilities teams to ensure product availability, manage sourcing activities, and maintain efficient purchasing processes at both the distributor and stand level.

Essential Functions

Sourcing

• Execute sourcing and procurement activities for assigned product categories.
• Assist with product sourcing, selection, and approvals, including coordinating samples and supplier changes.
• Support the development of specifications in collaboration with Culinary and Operations.
• Maintain alternate supplier options for high-risk or critical products.
• Coordinate with third-party auditors to ensure supplier quality compliance.

Supply Chain & Inventory Control

• Maintain vendor and distributor relationships, resolving product issues and monitoring performance.
• Prepare and analyze supplier data, usage reports, and unit-of-measure conversions.
• Support contract administration and distributor relationship management.
• Monitor compliance with third-party audit requirements.
• Ensure product supply continuity in alignment with marketing and operational plans.

Cost Controls

• Identify and recommend opportunities for cost savings within assigned categories.
• Support price negotiations that contribute to profitability.
• Track and report on product costs and savings initiatives.
• Provide updates on commodity cost trends to the leadership team.

Requirements

Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of purchasing/procurement experience required.
• Minimum 3 years in the restaurant, foodservice, or beverage industry required.
• Experience purchasing beef required.
• Experience purchasing bread/hamburger buns (preferably proprietary recipes) required.
• Experience with chicken, potatoes, and produce strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of foodservice-related facilities and equipment preferred.
• Exposure to commodity trading a plus.

Education/Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field required (or equivalent education and experience).

Knowledge/Skills

• Strong organizational and follow-up skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional and diplomatic communication with vendors and internal teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Travel

• Up to 15–20% travel required.