Instinct
Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Partnerships
Instinct, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63146
Overview
Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Partnerships role at Instinct. Instinct is a rapidly growing, family-owned marketer and manufacturer of science-based 100% natural pet food for dogs and cats. Our mission is to empower people to transform the lives of pets and get more raw nutrition into every bowl. Our home office is in St. Louis, Missouri with Raw Food kitchens in Lincoln, Nebraska. Instinct is part of the family-owned group, Agrolimen. Position Summary:
The Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Partnerships will serve as a strategic, hands-on leader responsible for driving sourcing excellence, managing and developing key supplier and co-manufacturer relationships, and ensuring supply continuity across our product portfolio. This role focuses on sourcing high-quality ingredients and packaging, optimizing costs, supporting sustainability initiatives, and leading innovation partnerships. The leader will develop strong partnerships with co-packers to deliver Instinct quality products on time, maintain compliance, and enable continuous improvement. This role requires a forward-thinking change agent who balances operational rigor with innovation, sustainability, and long-term supplier strategy while fostering high-performance teams and cross-functional collaboration.
Primary Job Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
Lead sourcing of ingredients, packaging, and indirect materials with a focus on quality, cost, innovation, and sustainability.
Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships, contracts, RFPs, and performance metrics.
Drive COGS excellence initiatives to deliver cost savings and margin improvements.
Analyze category and market trends to guide sourcing strategies and ensure supply resilience.
Serve as the primary liaison with co-manufacturers, ensuring compliance with Instinct standards and regulatory requirements.
Oversee qualification and onboarding of new co-manufacturers.
Conduct quarterly reviews, audits, and performance scorecard evaluations for all co-packers.
Partner with QA to ensure co-manufacturers meet quality, safety, and accreditation requirements.
Collaborate on continuous improvement initiatives, capital projects, and problem resolution.
Partner with R&D and sustainability teams to source lower-carbon proteins and recyclable/compostable packaging.
Support company-wide sustainability and GHG reduction goals through supplier engagement.
Actively participate in the cross-functional Innovation team, ensuring sourcing enables successful product launches.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Development
Lead and develop a team of sourcing and procurement professionals with expertise in ingredients, packaging, analytics, and supplier management.
Collaborate with Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and other teams to align supply, demand, and innovation strategies.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and high performance.
Monitor supply chain risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Oversee ingredient and packaging trials and ensure successful project execution.
Reduce excess and obsolete inventory while improving working capital efficiency.
Personal Attributes
Strategic thinker with a balance of vision and execution.
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with imperfect information.
Strong communicator with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization and externally with suppliers.
Collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments.
Excellent negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
Required Experience
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, supply chain or related discipline.
10+ years of experience in sourcing/procurement, preferably in food, pet food, or CPG.
Proven track record in managing co-manufacturers and external partnerships.
Strong understanding of procurement strategy, supplier management, and S&OP processes.
Excellent negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
Preferred Experience
3+ years managing co-manufacturers with diverse processes (extrusion, baking, canning, dehydration, meat).
Familiarity with sustainable sourcing certifications (e.g., MSC, RSPO).
Experience with ERP systems and procurement analytics tools.
Background in frozen or freeze-dried food manufacturing.
Strong track record with consumer packaged goods industry.
Passion for pets and wellness is a plus!
Travel Requirements
Requires travel up to 30% of the time
Annual travel to Lincoln, NE – home of our Center of Excellence Raw Food Kitchens
Compensation and Benefits Highly competitive compensation package includes health and dental insurance, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, short and long-term disability, paid time off, Purpose Days off for company partner volunteer opportunities, and 401k with company match.
Our
Instinct
is to
CHAMPION
Diversity.
At Instinct, we are committed to inclusion, empowerment, and respect. We believe in empowering people to transform the lives of pets through raw nutrition and empowering each other to celebrate our differences.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Partnerships role at Instinct. Instinct is a rapidly growing, family-owned marketer and manufacturer of science-based 100% natural pet food for dogs and cats. Our mission is to empower people to transform the lives of pets and get more raw nutrition into every bowl. Our home office is in St. Louis, Missouri with Raw Food kitchens in Lincoln, Nebraska. Instinct is part of the family-owned group, Agrolimen. Position Summary:
The Senior Director, Strategic Sourcing & Partnerships will serve as a strategic, hands-on leader responsible for driving sourcing excellence, managing and developing key supplier and co-manufacturer relationships, and ensuring supply continuity across our product portfolio. This role focuses on sourcing high-quality ingredients and packaging, optimizing costs, supporting sustainability initiatives, and leading innovation partnerships. The leader will develop strong partnerships with co-packers to deliver Instinct quality products on time, maintain compliance, and enable continuous improvement. This role requires a forward-thinking change agent who balances operational rigor with innovation, sustainability, and long-term supplier strategy while fostering high-performance teams and cross-functional collaboration.
Primary Job Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement
Lead sourcing of ingredients, packaging, and indirect materials with a focus on quality, cost, innovation, and sustainability.
Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships, contracts, RFPs, and performance metrics.
Drive COGS excellence initiatives to deliver cost savings and margin improvements.
Analyze category and market trends to guide sourcing strategies and ensure supply resilience.
Serve as the primary liaison with co-manufacturers, ensuring compliance with Instinct standards and regulatory requirements.
Oversee qualification and onboarding of new co-manufacturers.
Conduct quarterly reviews, audits, and performance scorecard evaluations for all co-packers.
Partner with QA to ensure co-manufacturers meet quality, safety, and accreditation requirements.
Collaborate on continuous improvement initiatives, capital projects, and problem resolution.
Partner with R&D and sustainability teams to source lower-carbon proteins and recyclable/compostable packaging.
Support company-wide sustainability and GHG reduction goals through supplier engagement.
Actively participate in the cross-functional Innovation team, ensuring sourcing enables successful product launches.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Development
Lead and develop a team of sourcing and procurement professionals with expertise in ingredients, packaging, analytics, and supplier management.
Collaborate with Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and other teams to align supply, demand, and innovation strategies.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, continuous improvement, and high performance.
Monitor supply chain risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Oversee ingredient and packaging trials and ensure successful project execution.
Reduce excess and obsolete inventory while improving working capital efficiency.
Personal Attributes
Strategic thinker with a balance of vision and execution.
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with imperfect information.
Strong communicator with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization and externally with suppliers.
Collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments.
Excellent negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
Required Experience
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, supply chain or related discipline.
10+ years of experience in sourcing/procurement, preferably in food, pet food, or CPG.
Proven track record in managing co-manufacturers and external partnerships.
Strong understanding of procurement strategy, supplier management, and S&OP processes.
Excellent negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
Preferred Experience
3+ years managing co-manufacturers with diverse processes (extrusion, baking, canning, dehydration, meat).
Familiarity with sustainable sourcing certifications (e.g., MSC, RSPO).
Experience with ERP systems and procurement analytics tools.
Background in frozen or freeze-dried food manufacturing.
Strong track record with consumer packaged goods industry.
Passion for pets and wellness is a plus!
Travel Requirements
Requires travel up to 30% of the time
Annual travel to Lincoln, NE – home of our Center of Excellence Raw Food Kitchens
Compensation and Benefits Highly competitive compensation package includes health and dental insurance, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, short and long-term disability, paid time off, Purpose Days off for company partner volunteer opportunities, and 401k with company match.
Our
Instinct
is to
CHAMPION
Diversity.
At Instinct, we are committed to inclusion, empowerment, and respect. We believe in empowering people to transform the lives of pets through raw nutrition and empowering each other to celebrate our differences.
#J-18808-Ljbffr