Industry 1: Food & Beverages
Industry 2: Food Production
Industry 3: Logistics and Supply Chain
Job ID: 38950403146
Category: Supply Chain & Operations
Location: Chicago, IL
BrainWorks is excited to partner with a globally recognized leader in the food industry to hire a Director of Supply Chain—an exceptional opportunity to shape strategy, lead global operations, and drive meaningful impact within a high-growth, market-leading organization. This highly visible leadership role will oversee end-to-end supply chain functions, with a focus on global procurement, inventory optimization, logistics, and manufacturing partnerships.
This hybrid role is based in the Greater Chicago area (north suburb) and does not include relocation support. Candidates must have global experience in the food industry (excluding beverage) and a proven track record of leading high-performing supply chain teams in dynamic, growth-oriented environments.
Position Summary:
- Develop and execute global supply chain strategies that align with business objectives, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
- Lead procurement and sourcing of food ingredients, managing supplier relationships, contract negotiations, and on-time material delivery.
- Oversee demand planning, forecasting, and inventory management to maintain optimal stock levels and minimize waste.
- Manage logistics, warehousing, and distribution to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery across international markets.
- Collaborate with external manufacturing partners to align production with demand and support capacity planning.
- Partner cross-functionally with internal teams to ensure end-to-end supply chain alignment and responsiveness to business needs.
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing supply chain team, promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Manage the department budget, implementing cost-saving initiatives while maintaining service and quality standards.
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and global trade requirements.
- Leverage supply chain systems and KPIs to enhance visibility, support decision-making, and drive ongoing process optimization.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field required; Master’s degree or certifications (e.g., CSCP, CPIM) strongly preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive work experience in end-to-end supply chain within the food industry (excluding beverage), with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Demonstrated success leading and improving global supply chain operations within a complex and fast-paced business.
- Ideal candidate will have a strong command of S&OP, demand planning, procurement, logistics, and external manufacturing best practices.
- Proficiency in ERP (SAP preferred) and supply chain systems, with strong data and analytics skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Key Competencies:
- Global mindset and cultural agility
- Strategic and hands-on leadership approach
- Problem-solving orientation
- Results-driven and quality-focused
BrainWorks, a Top 50 Hunt Scanlon executive search firm, has been delivering superior talent for over three decades to drive business performance. Our consultants are true experts in their fields, specializing in Consumer Products, Analytics, Accounting and Finance, Information Technology, Private Equity and Corporate Development, Sales and Marketing.
We pride ourselves on delivering quality, speed, and results through our proven recruitment process. When you partner with BrainWorks, you gain trusted consultants who combine industry expertise with a commitment to understanding your business needs. Visit us at brainworksinc.com.
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