Vice President of Supply Chain chez Imperial Distribution (IDI)

The Vice President of Supply Chain is a key member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer. This role is responsible for the strategic direction, financial performance, and operational execution of Imperial’s end-to-end supply chain, including sourcing, procurement, inventory management, distribution center operations, transportation, and logistics. The VP of Supply Chain will play a pivotal role in delivering on our customer promise while ensuring alignment with Imperial’s mission, vision, and values.

About Imperial (IDI)

Imperial, founded in 1939 and headquartered in Worcester, MA, is a leading privately lead distributor of supermarket non-foods. We’ve helped our partners grow smarter and stronger—offering unmatched product selection, customized programs, and expert retail support across health and beauty care, seasonal items, general merchandise categories. With more than 700 associates and a state-of-the-art distribution center, Imperial serves chain and independent retailers across 22 states. Imperial is recognized throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for excellence in distribution, merchandising, and category management.

What sets us apart? Our singular focus is on providing retailers with the value, innovation, and differentiation they need to thrive in today's dynamic marketplace.

Our Mission prioritizes people, embraces change, and fosters growth. And our Vision is to redefine partnership with a lasting impact on our customers, communities, and the industry. At the center of it all is our amazing team.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a supply chain strategy that balances cost efficiency, customer service, and resilience, in alignment with Imperial’s mission and long-term growth goals.
• Lead network design, vendor sourcing strategies, and transportation optimization to improve reliability and competitiveness.
• Anticipate and adapt to external forces such as tariffs, global sourcing shifts, and regulatory changes with proactive strategies.

Talent & Culture

• Engage, inspire, and develop 300+ team members across multiple facilities, fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure team members understand their role in Imperial’s mission and feel supported in their growth and success.
• Build succession plans and leadership development programs to ensure future bench strength.
• Model and reinforce Imperial’s values: prioritize safety, encourage continuous improvement, celebrate success, support communities, and do the right thing.

Operations & Execution

• Lead day-to-day supply chain operations across procurement, warehouse/DC, inventory, and transportation.
• Provide hands-on leadership to the team, ensuring operational excellence and accountability.
• Deliver best-in-class service to Imperial’s retail customers, consistently meeting fill rate, accuracy, and on-time performance expectations.
• Rely on data and analytics to make informed decisions, using forecasting, performance dashboards, and root-cause analysis to identify inefficiencies, improve service, and track performance against key metrics.
• Champion a safety-first culture in all facilities, in line with Imperial’s values.
• Embed continuous improvement into daily work through process discipline, Lean/Six Sigma, and performance measurement.

Financial Accountability

• Own the supply chain P&L, including cost management, productivity, and working capital utilization.
• Manage inventory levels and vendor terms to maximize service levels and cash flow.
• Deliver measurable savings and efficiencies through waste elimination and process improvement.

Technology & Innovation

• Drive modernization of supply chain systems, including ERP, WMS, TMS, forecasting, and analytics tools.
• Advance the use of digital capabilities such as real-time visibility, advanced analytics, and automation to support scalability and efficiency.
• Leverage emerging technologies, including AI-enabled forecasting, planning, and procurement tools, to improve decision-making and responsiveness.
• Partner with IT and Finance to ensure supply chain systems enable both operational excellence and strategic growth.

Customer & Partner Engagement

• Serve as the executive liaison to Imperial’s retail customers on supply chain performance, reliability, and innovation.
• Build strong vendor relationships that ensure supply continuity, competitive terms, and joint problem-solving.
• Communicate with transparency and urgency in managing crises such as supply disruptions, recalls, or weather events.
• Performs other relevant job duties as required.

Qualifications/Skills

• 15+ years of progressive supply chain leadership in wholesale distribution, retail, or consumer goods.
• Proven track record leading end-to-end supply chain functions at scale.
• Success in improving customer service levels while reducing cost and increasing efficiency.
• Strong financial acumen with direct P&L accountability.
• Brings a problem-solving mindset that quickly identifies issues, drills into root causes, and drives effective solutions under pressure.
• Experience leading organizations through significant change and transformation, including technology adoption, process redesign, and adapting to market shifts. Familiarity with AI-enabled forecasting, procurement, and automation tools is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to engage and motivate large, diverse teams, with success in building culture, developing leaders, and driving retention through clear communication and support.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Why Join Us

• Growth Culture: Opportunities for professional advancement
• Employee Perks: Discounted product store, food events, and summer food trucks
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, 401(k), bonus, PTO and more

**A full comprehensive job description will be available during the interview process, this is a condensed job posting.