[Hiring] Director of Protein Procurement @Just Food For Dogs

Role Description

The Director of Protein Procurement is responsible for JFFD’s Total Cost of Ownership of all proteins used in our products. This role will be responsible for ensuring we partner with the right suppliers from across the globe – innovation, service, quality, cost – with the right commercial relationships.

The role needs to embrace our entrepreneurial culture and work with:

• New Product Development and Veterinary Services teams to develop new products
• Quality team to ensure our protein suppliers adhere to our standards

In addition, the Director needs to be a leader across all Operations to identify, scope, and drive improvement projects related to how we acquire and use our proteins. The ideal candidate will also help JFFD improve its Procure to Pay processes, leveraging our core ERP, NetSuite.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in procurement or category management, including strategic sourcing and supplier partnerships
• Deep experience in the human food meat/poultry/seafood supply chain
• Proven track record of managing volatility in protein markets (Poultry, Beef, Pork, Fish)
• Ability to execute forward buys, formula pricing, and index-based contracts (Urner Barry, USDA market reports)
• Deep understanding of international freight, customs clearance, tariffs, and USDA/FDA import regulations for sourcing proteins outside the US
• Demonstrated history of delivering cost savings and driving cross-functional collaboration in dynamic environments
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Passion for pets and alignment with JustFoodForDogs' mission and values

Requirements

• Manage and optimize supplier relationships, focusing on turnkey purchased finished goods and expanding product offerings
• Lead strategic supplier network planning, including capacity strategy, geographic risk diversification, and supplier segmentation
• Support innovation and renovation initiatives by collaborating with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and R&D teams
• Resolve supplier performance issues, ensuring On Time In Full (OTIF) delivery and quality standards
• Build insights into supply dynamics, including supplier performance, contracting techniques, and market trends
• Conduct market research to identify opportunities and mitigate risks within assigned categories

Company Description

JustFoodForDogs, the #1 vet recommended fresh food for dogs, is dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives through real, whole-food nutrition. Founded in 2010, JustFoodForDogs revolutionized the fresh whole food movement for dogs when it opened the first open-to-the-public kitchen cooking food for dogs. All of our recipes are formulated by veterinarians and made with 100% human-grade ingredients.

Today, consumers can find JustFoodForDogs at JustFoodForDogs retail locations, their favorite retailers, and online at JustFoodForDogs.com. The company’s offerings include daily meals, shelf-stable products, supplements, and treats.