VP of Procurement

Job Background to Role

The Food program’s vision is to inspire and enable the world to make food choices and use food experiences to develop more sustainable lifestyles and communities. Its mission is to inspire and enable the community members to make food choices and enjoy food experiences that support them in being their best.

This senior leadership role is part of a strategic transition to cross-regional leadership within North America. The VP of Procurement will harmonize procurement strategies across these distinct regions to ensure maximum return on investment and value for money while respecting regional operational nuances.

Role Summary

The VP of Procurement, North America, is a highly strategic senior leadership role reporting to the SVP, Centers of Excellence. This position is responsible for the overarching procurement strategy across North America, for a large-scale client account.

The VP will manage the regional Directors of Procurement and lead the evaluation of procurement models to define and execute against a Procurement strategy specifically balancing the different purchasing models that exist in the Bay Area and the rest of the Americas. The role requires a leader who can drive commercial results while meeting program goals on health, wellness, transparency, and sustainability.

The Great Things You Will Do

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Drive the evolution and execution of a unified North American procurement strategy in collaboration with Compass stakeholders and Client partners.
• Evaluate and determine the future of the Direct Purchasing model vs. GPO (Foodbuy) expansion
• Direct responsible and sustainable sourcing strategies to lead the industry in alignment with the Client's Food "Responsible Business" framework.
• Identify and implement opportunities for cross-regional integration, standardization, and sharing of best practices.

Commercial & Operational Optimization

• Analyze spend, menu data, and operations across North America to optimize product and supplier bases.
• Deploy value creation and continuous improvement mindsets to deliver commercial results in line with program goals.
• Direct demand planning and category forecasting to mitigate market risks.

Stakeholder & Team Management

• Lead and cultivate a high-performing team of procurement professionals, providing mentorship to regional Directors.
• Act as the primary liaison between Compass organizations (e.g., Foodbuy) and high-level client stakeholders including at Quarterly Procurement Reviews (QPRs) and annual summit meetings.
• Collaborate with culinary, operations, and finance teams to guide decision rubrics for ingredient and category-level planning.
• Build credibility and trust across diverse stakeholder groups, including Compass stakeholders, regional leadership and client partners.

Talent Profile & Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in large-scale strategic procurement or food industry supply chain management.
• Proven experience managing teams and leading cross-functional projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Deep understanding of the food industry, including food safety, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and sustainability trends.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to analyze complex data to draw logical conclusions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex procurement data for stakeholders.

Preferred Skills

• Experience navigating both Direct Purchasing and GPO/Foodbuy procurement models.
• Ability to influence others not in a direct span of control and work effectively in a highly matrixed organization.
• Demonstrated passion for the Compass values: Openness, Trust, Integrity, and Passion for Quality.

Travel

• Ability to travel (approximately 10-20%) to various North American locations to meet with team members and client partners.