Director of Purchasing & Supply Chain

Director of Purchasing & Supply ChainLocation: Richardson, TX (HQ) Company: Sara's Mediterranean Market Reports to: COO / CEO Department: Merchandising & OperationsRole OverviewSara's Mediterranean Market is a high-volume, family-owned specialty grocery and food retailer preparing for its next phase of growth, including a second flagship location and future expansion. We are seeking an experienced Director of Purchasing & Supply Chain to lead all procurement, category management, and inventory strategy across the business.This role is responsible for owning margin, availability, and vendor strategy across grocery and related categories. The ideal candidate brings deep grocery procurement experience, strong vendor negotiation skills, and the ability to build scalable systems and discipline as the company grows.This is a hands-on leadership role with high visibility and direct impact on profitability and operational excellence.Key ResponsibilitiesProcurement & Category ManagementOwn purchasing strategy across all grocery and related categories, including dry goods, specialty imports, frozen, dairy, beverage, and private label.Lead SKU rationalization, assortment planning, and category performance reviews.Develop and execute category-level margin, pricing, and promotion strategies.Vendor Management & NegotiationLead all vendor negotiations, including cost reductions, payment terms, freight, rebates, and promotional funding.Build and maintain strong supplier relationships while continuously improving cost structure and service levels.Identify and onboard new vendors aligned with quality, authenticity, and margin objectives.Inventory & Demand PlanningEstablish inventory discipline including open-to-buy, turns, min/max, and forecasting processes.Reduce out-of-stocks, overstocks, and dead inventory.Partner with operations and finance to align purchasing with sales forecasts and cash-flow targets.Supply Chain & Process ImprovementImplement scalable purchasing systems, controls, and reporting.Improve PO accuracy, receiving compliance, and shrink reduction.Develop backup coverage and eliminate single-point dependencies in purchasing processes.Cross-Functional LeadershipPartner closely with COO, GM, Finance, Operations, and Merchandising teams.Provide clear reporting on margins, turns, vendor performance, and category health.Hire, train, and develop future buyers or category managers as the business scales.QualificationsRequired7+ years of progressive experience in grocery procurement, category management, or supply chain leadership.Experience in a $50M+ grocery or specialty retail environment.Proven success managing multi-category purchasing and vendor negotiations.Strong financial acumen with demonstrated impact on margin and inventory turns.Advanced Excel and ERP / inventory system proficiency.PreferredExperience with retailers such as H-E-B, Central Market, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Costco, or similar.Private label or proprietary brand experience.Multi-unit or expansion-stage company experience.Leadership ProfileHighly organized and detail-orientedData-driven decision makerComfortable holding vendors and internal teams accountableStrong communicator with executive presenceAble to operate independently and make decisive recommendationsComfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environmentWhy Join Sara's Mediterranean MarketHigh-impact leadership role with direct influence on profitability and growthOpportunity to build best-in-class procurement systems from the ground upWork with a passionate, quality-driven leadership teamBe part of a respected, family-owned brand entering its next growth chapterCompensationCompetitive base salary plus performance-based incentive tied to margin improvement, inventory turns, and supply-chain KPIs. Full benefits included. Apply directly via LinkedIn or email your resume to: zaid@

Created: 2026-03-10