Sunkist Growers
Head of Procurement (Portfolio Start-up Initiative)
Sunkist Growers, Santa Clarita, California, United States, 91382
Head of Procurement (Portfolio Start-up Initiative)
We are a global leader in the citrus industry, home to one of the most recognized brands in fresh produce. Our citrus varieties are sold throughout North America and the Asia-Pacific region, and our licensed products—juices, waters, nuts, and more—reach over 50 countries worldwide. We’re proudly grower-owned, representing thousands of family farmer businesses. Everything we do is for them. Under one banner, we’re a $1B portfolio company comprising 10 business units and a workforce 500 strong. As part of our business transformation, we are modernizing operations to drive efficiency, performance, and profitability—while staying true to our grower-focused mission. With a few functions already centralized, Procurement is next! We're seeking our
Founding Director of Procurement
to architect this transformation! The Opportunity Think like a founder, operate with established backing. As our
Founding Director of Procurement , you'll launch an internal start-up initiative with entrepreneurial freedom and enterprise support behind you. This inaugural role puts you at the helm of building and leading our first-ever centralized procurement function from concept to center of excellence. You'll transform fragmented purchasing across 10 business units into one cohesive, high-performing strategic capability—creating order from complexity with start-up agility. Reporting directly to the COO and working closely with company leadership, this is a high-impact, high-visibility role where you'll define the blueprint for procurement excellence. You'll establish the principles, processes, and culture that will drive this function for years to come. You will architect and implement the strategy that ensures we procure the right goods and services—at the right value, quality, and speed—to drive operational efficiency and competitive advantage. Your work will deliver higher returns for our growers and fuel the future success of a global, purpose-driven brand. What You’ll Do Architect and execute a new vision for a centralized procurement function aligned with the company’s strategic goals Establish and implement departmental policies, goals, and metrics focused on performance, quality, cost, and value Act as a change agent—identifying opportunities, defining and communicating new ways of working, and bringing people along for the ride toward achievement Procurement Operations Lead and mentor a team of four, managing all procurement and purchasing activities (materials, supplies, equipment, services) across the portfolio Ensure the cost, quality, and service of acquisitions get the best value for money to achieve operational efficiency and a competitive advantage. Drive modernization of procurement tools and processes, including ERP optimization, category management, and spend analytics Business & Financial Optimization Analyze company-wide spend and supply data to drive sourcing decisions and cost-saving opportunities Leverage both historical and predictive analytics to support better planning, forecasting, and decision-making Develop and lead sourcing strategies that drive cost savings, quality, sustainability, and supplier diversity. Negotiate long-term agreements, consolidate suppliers, and strengthen compliance and risk mitigation practices. Build collaborative, performance-driven supplier relationships focused on innovation, resilience, and continuous improvement. Monitor KPIs and address issues to ensure delivery, cost, and quality targets are met. In a player-coach role, lead and develop a high-performing team Hire, mentor, and retain top talent to develop future leaders Cultivate a team environment of engagement, and continuous improvement Cross-Functional Collaboration Be the procurement advisor to leadership and stakeholders across business units Partner with finance, legal, operations, engineering, and sustainability teams to align sourcing with business goals Drive alignment and consensus, even when priorities differ, to move initiatives forward What You’ll Bring 10+ years of progressive procurement/sourcing experience, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial organization of mid-size or larger Proven success building and leading a centralized procurement function Deep knowledge of procurement best practices, sourcing processes, and supplier management Demonstrated ability to deliver measurable cost savings, manage supplier risk, and negotiate complex contracts Business & Operational Acumen Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into actionable insights Understanding of supplier risk, continuity planning, and compliance (environmental, regulatory, trade) Financial fluency, including cost modeling and spend analysis Skilled negotiator with the ability to create win-win outcomes and close contract deals aligned with business objectives Leadership & Influence Track record of leading high-performing teams and cultivating talent Stakeholder management and influencing skills—able to align cross-functional leaders with varying priorities Experience leading change, system/process improvements, and transformation initiatives Interpersonal Skills Clear, confident communicator—able to share complex ideas with diverse audiences Relationship builder—approachable, collaborative, and trusted across the business Exemplify an entrepreneurial spirit with an innovative, solutions-oriented mindset Hands-on team player and doer — lead by example Education & Tech Proficiency Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field required MBA and/or CPSM certification a strong plus Strong ERP experience (SAP, Oracle, or similar); advanced Excel and comfort with procurement systems Additional Requirements Must reside or be willing to relocate within reasonable driving distance of Santa Clarita, CA. Relocation support will be considered. In-office presence required Monday–Friday (we’re a collaborative face time team) What We Offer Annual base compensation range between $150,000 and $225,000 plus bonus. Final compensation will be determined based on experience and skills and may vary from this range. Builder role creating a new centralized best practices procurement function Head-of function leadership role with visible impact on future growth Health care and dependent care FSAs 401(k) plan with company match Paid holiday and vacation benefits Business casual environment with a mission-driven culture A business led with strong human centricity; good people doing good work A chance to change to join a growth orientated, profitable, and purpose-driven organization Come help us build the future of Sunkist Growers. Join a company where your leadership drives results that matter. Sunkist Growers is an equal opportunity employer. Employment opportunities are open to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, immigration status, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic characteristics, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. AAP/M/F/V/D
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We are a global leader in the citrus industry, home to one of the most recognized brands in fresh produce. Our citrus varieties are sold throughout North America and the Asia-Pacific region, and our licensed products—juices, waters, nuts, and more—reach over 50 countries worldwide. We’re proudly grower-owned, representing thousands of family farmer businesses. Everything we do is for them. Under one banner, we’re a $1B portfolio company comprising 10 business units and a workforce 500 strong. As part of our business transformation, we are modernizing operations to drive efficiency, performance, and profitability—while staying true to our grower-focused mission. With a few functions already centralized, Procurement is next! We're seeking our
Founding Director of Procurement
to architect this transformation! The Opportunity Think like a founder, operate with established backing. As our
Founding Director of Procurement , you'll launch an internal start-up initiative with entrepreneurial freedom and enterprise support behind you. This inaugural role puts you at the helm of building and leading our first-ever centralized procurement function from concept to center of excellence. You'll transform fragmented purchasing across 10 business units into one cohesive, high-performing strategic capability—creating order from complexity with start-up agility. Reporting directly to the COO and working closely with company leadership, this is a high-impact, high-visibility role where you'll define the blueprint for procurement excellence. You'll establish the principles, processes, and culture that will drive this function for years to come. You will architect and implement the strategy that ensures we procure the right goods and services—at the right value, quality, and speed—to drive operational efficiency and competitive advantage. Your work will deliver higher returns for our growers and fuel the future success of a global, purpose-driven brand. What You’ll Do Architect and execute a new vision for a centralized procurement function aligned with the company’s strategic goals Establish and implement departmental policies, goals, and metrics focused on performance, quality, cost, and value Act as a change agent—identifying opportunities, defining and communicating new ways of working, and bringing people along for the ride toward achievement Procurement Operations Lead and mentor a team of four, managing all procurement and purchasing activities (materials, supplies, equipment, services) across the portfolio Ensure the cost, quality, and service of acquisitions get the best value for money to achieve operational efficiency and a competitive advantage. Drive modernization of procurement tools and processes, including ERP optimization, category management, and spend analytics Business & Financial Optimization Analyze company-wide spend and supply data to drive sourcing decisions and cost-saving opportunities Leverage both historical and predictive analytics to support better planning, forecasting, and decision-making Develop and lead sourcing strategies that drive cost savings, quality, sustainability, and supplier diversity. Negotiate long-term agreements, consolidate suppliers, and strengthen compliance and risk mitigation practices. Build collaborative, performance-driven supplier relationships focused on innovation, resilience, and continuous improvement. Monitor KPIs and address issues to ensure delivery, cost, and quality targets are met. In a player-coach role, lead and develop a high-performing team Hire, mentor, and retain top talent to develop future leaders Cultivate a team environment of engagement, and continuous improvement Cross-Functional Collaboration Be the procurement advisor to leadership and stakeholders across business units Partner with finance, legal, operations, engineering, and sustainability teams to align sourcing with business goals Drive alignment and consensus, even when priorities differ, to move initiatives forward What You’ll Bring 10+ years of progressive procurement/sourcing experience, ideally in a manufacturing or industrial organization of mid-size or larger Proven success building and leading a centralized procurement function Deep knowledge of procurement best practices, sourcing processes, and supplier management Demonstrated ability to deliver measurable cost savings, manage supplier risk, and negotiate complex contracts Business & Operational Acumen Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into actionable insights Understanding of supplier risk, continuity planning, and compliance (environmental, regulatory, trade) Financial fluency, including cost modeling and spend analysis Skilled negotiator with the ability to create win-win outcomes and close contract deals aligned with business objectives Leadership & Influence Track record of leading high-performing teams and cultivating talent Stakeholder management and influencing skills—able to align cross-functional leaders with varying priorities Experience leading change, system/process improvements, and transformation initiatives Interpersonal Skills Clear, confident communicator—able to share complex ideas with diverse audiences Relationship builder—approachable, collaborative, and trusted across the business Exemplify an entrepreneurial spirit with an innovative, solutions-oriented mindset Hands-on team player and doer — lead by example Education & Tech Proficiency Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field required MBA and/or CPSM certification a strong plus Strong ERP experience (SAP, Oracle, or similar); advanced Excel and comfort with procurement systems Additional Requirements Must reside or be willing to relocate within reasonable driving distance of Santa Clarita, CA. Relocation support will be considered. In-office presence required Monday–Friday (we’re a collaborative face time team) What We Offer Annual base compensation range between $150,000 and $225,000 plus bonus. Final compensation will be determined based on experience and skills and may vary from this range. Builder role creating a new centralized best practices procurement function Head-of function leadership role with visible impact on future growth Health care and dependent care FSAs 401(k) plan with company match Paid holiday and vacation benefits Business casual environment with a mission-driven culture A business led with strong human centricity; good people doing good work A chance to change to join a growth orientated, profitable, and purpose-driven organization Come help us build the future of Sunkist Growers. Join a company where your leadership drives results that matter. Sunkist Growers is an equal opportunity employer. Employment opportunities are open to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, immigration status, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic characteristics, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. AAP/M/F/V/D
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