Newly created leadership position to support EarthFresh's growth

Lead sourcing, grower relations, inventory strategy, and procurement operations

On-site role in Burlington, ON with 25% travel

The Vice President of Procurement (CAN/US) will provide executive leadership and strategic direction for all procurement functions across North America sourcing markets. This role is accountable for developing and executing procurement strategies that ensure consistent supply, optimize cost structures, and strengthen grower and supplier partnerships across the potato and fresh produce supply chain.

The VP will lead a geographically dispersed team and oversee sourcing, grower relations, inventory strategy, and procurement operations, while working cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Quality to drive profitability, service excellence, and sustainable growth. This position plays a critical role in aligning procurement with company-wide commercial objectives and long-term strategic initiatives. This posting is for an existing vacancy.

QUALIFICATIONS Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Experience & Skills

10+ years of progressive leadership experience in procurement, sourcing, or agricultural supply chain management (potato/produce industry strongly preferred)

Proven success leading multi-site and/or North America procurement operations

Deep expertise in fresh produce sourcing, crop cycles, and supply planning

Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated experience managing P&L; impact and driving cost optimization initiatives

Exceptional negotiation skills with experience managing complex supplier and grower networks

Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams across multiple regions

Advanced analytical, financial, and forecasting capabilities

Strong communication skills with executive presence and the ability to influence senior stakeholders

Experience operating in cross-border sourcing environments (US and Canada markets) preferred





Ability and willingness to travel frequently across North America as required

KEY LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABILITIES

Establish and execute the procurement strategy aligned with corporate growth and customer commitments

Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to broader business strategy, planning, and execution

Build a high-performance procurement organization with strong bench strength and succession planning

Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

Ensure alignment between procurement, sales forecasts, and operational execution

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Global Procurement Strategy

Develop and implement comprehensive sourcing strategies across North America markets

Ensure consistent, high-quality supply while optimizing cost, reliability, and risk mitigation

Identify diversification opportunities to strengthen supply chain resilience

2. Grower & Supplier Network Management

Build and maintain strategic partnerships with growers, packers, and key suppliers

Expand and optimize the grower network to support growth objectives and market demands

Lead contract negotiations, pricing strategies, and long-term supply agreements

3. Team Leadership & Development

Lead, mentor, and develop regional procurement teams across the US and Canada Establish transparent performance metrics, accountability structures, and development plans

Foster a collaborative, results-driven culture aligned with company values

4. Supply Planning & Inventory Optimization

Oversee inventory positioning, storage strategies, and crop movement across regions

Align procurement planning with sales forecasts and operational capacity

Minimize shrink, waste,



and supply disruptions through proactive management

5. Financial & Performance Management

Own procurement budgets, cost structures, and margin optimization initiatives

Analyze market trends, cost drivers, and pricing strategies to enhance profitability

Establish and track KPIs related to cost, service levels, quality, and supplier performance

6. Quality & Compliance Oversight

Ensure all sourced product meets company and customer quality standards

Partner closely with Quality Assurance and Food Safety teams to maintain compliance

Support continuous improvement in product consistency and specifications

7. Risk Management & Market Intelligence

Monitor global market conditions, crop forecasts, weather impacts, and supply risks

Develop contingency plans and alternative sourcing strategies

Provide market insights to executive leadership and commercial teams

8. Claims & Issue Resolution

Oversee claims management processes with growers and suppliers

Ensure timely, fair, and effective resolution of quality or supply issues

9. Program Development & Growth Initiatives

Lead the expansion of grower programs and proprietary supply agreements

Identify and execute opportunities to increase supply chain efficiency and scale

Support new product development and category expansion initiatives

10. Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Drive process improvements across procurement systems, tools, and workflows

Leverage data and technology to enhance forecasting, sourcing decisions, and reporting

Implement best practices in agricultural procurement and supply chain management

11. Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Sales to align procurement strategies with customer demand and pricing

Collaborate with Operations on storage, logistics, and distribution planning

Work with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting, and performance reporting

12. Additional Responsibilities Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Sales and Procurement Officer

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📌 Vice President Procurement (Burlington)
🏢 Gilder Search Group
📍 Burlington