Sourcing Manager I (Produce)

Description:

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Sourcing Manager I is responsible for supporting Houston Food Bank’s “fresh forward” strategy by securing a stable supply of donated perishable and/or non-perishable foods, prioritizing fresh, nutritious and locally sourced products. This position is responsible for building and managing relationships with local food donors specializing in, but not limited to, produce, dairy, meat, grains, bread and/or non-perishables to secure zero-cost donations. The Sourcing Manager I effectively integrates the existing Houston Food Bank Stewardship model while offering actionable insights, recommendations, and continuous improvement strategies.

Adhere to PACT values. (Purpose: Using our strengths passionately to contribute to our mission. Accountability: Choosing to rise above one’s circumstances and demonstrating ownership to achieve results. See It. Own It. Solve It. Do It. Courage: Standing up for what’s right and acting. Transparency: Doing things openly and honestly).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Identifies and recruits new donors within the industry from our service area and maintains relationships through the donor relations program.
• Develops and implements strategic resourcing tactics to meet food solicitation goals.
• Works with the Feeding America sourcing team to maximize donations and relationships within our service area.
• Maintains a steady supply of donated foods, for assigned categories, to keep Houston Food Bank (HFB) operational year-round.
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert on the supply chain across assigned categories, offering strategic insights, providing actionable recommendations, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Forecasts food supply and constraints for assigned categories.
• Pivots quickly to manage competing priorities and urgent initiatives.
• Manages sourcing programs and initiatives, as needed.
• Manages relationships, reporting, and data tracking for grants, as needed.
• Helps the team develop an annual strategic plan and prioritize solicitation efforts accordingly.
• Organizes and manages multiple projects, setting priorities, and working independently under aggressive timelines with strong attention to detail.
• Collects, analyzes, and reports data on items within the industry and sourcing activities.
• Provides technical assistance to HFB staff and partner agencies, as needed.
• Understands HFB’s Mission, policies, culture, values, history, key stakeholders, and programs.
• Participates in events and responds to emergencies outside traditional work schedules, as needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Supply Chain, Business, Marketing, Agriculture, Food Science, or a closely related field.
• 3+ years experience in procuring, strategic sourcing, or buying of perishable or non-perishable foods.
• Experience in supply chain, non-profit, food banking, retail grocery, or sales.
• Experience with handling, shipping, selling, buying, sourcing, and/or storing foods.
• Experience as a buyer or key account sourcing manager, preferred.
• Experience with inventory management, preferred.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, strongly preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

• ServSafe Manager Certification or ability and willingness to become certified within 6 months of hire.
• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and insurance.

Special Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the job holder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

• Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Salesforce, Asana, SharePoint
• Ability to work with a diverse population, including the public
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in person, via telephone, and by email communication)
• Ability to innovate and provide creative solutions
• Ability to manage time efficiently and to work independently with minimum supervision
• Ability to represent HFB professionally under a variety of conditions
• Ability to foster strong relationships internally and externally
• Ability to analyze complex information and develop data-driven sourcing strategies
• Ability to be a collaborative team player

COMPLIANCE:

Carries out responsibilities in accordance with HFB policies.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. (For best performance, the jobholder in this position would be expected to show the right knowledge, skills, and abilities in the listed areas.)

COMPETENCIES:

Business Insight / Instills Trust / Drives Engagement / Optimizes Work Processes / Directs Work / Composure / Manages Ambiguity / Communicates Effectively / Organizational Savvy / Decision Quality / Manages Conflict / Presentation Skills

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of the job, the employee is required daily to analyze and interpret data, communicate, and remain in a standing or stationary position for a significant amount of the workday; and often access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and other office productivity devices. The employee must regularly move about the office, around the facility, and donor sites, use hands, wrists, and fingers to grip, type, and write. The employee must frequently lift 50 pounds. The employee will need to have the average ability to hear horns, warnings, and alerts associated with a warehouse. The employee must frequently travel to other sites for business.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The job is generally performed in a hybrid setting that includes an office environment, warehouse/retail facilities, and outdoors; the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, strong food-related smells, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the office environment is typically quiet, but the employee will be occasionally exposed to loud noise levels (e.g., horns, fans).

TRAVEL REQUIRED:

Travel is required for this position (up to 40% of the time and on a domestic basis within our 18-county service area).

This role supports hours of operations at the Houston Food Bank facilities, as necessary, and may require flexibility (e.g., times of disaster, community events, company events).

• Is legally able to work in the United States.