Manager-Procurement & Sustainability (Food Buyer)

We are seeking a strategic Manager of Procurement and Sustainability to lead sourcing for a high-volume, multi-unit campus. This role oversees all foodservice purchasing, including vendor strategy, contract compliance, daily procurement, and inventory, distribution, and storeroom operations.
The ideal candidate will build strong supplier partnerships, track market and seasonal trends, and ensure a consistent supply of high-quality ingredients while balancing cost and availability. Partnering with culinary and retail teams, this leader will use ERP systems to forecast demand, reduce waste, and improve operational efficiency.
A strong commitment to sustainability is essential, with experience sourcing products that meet ethical, fair-trade, and responsible-resource standards. This role will set procurement and sustainability goals while building a reliable, high-performing supply chain.

Job Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with policies on acquisition of goods and services so that the maximum value is obtained per dollar expended.
• Develop and implement programs to ensure compliance with group purchasing organization (GPO) contracts, institutional directives, and legal and regulatory policies.
• Develop and implement inventory strategies for own area by developing selection criteria based on purchase data analysis.
• Support the facility's budget through forecasting, planning, and execution, and update policies and procedures and process improvement activities.
• Negotiate standardized contracts, leases, service agreements, and other purchasing-related control documents in coordination with cross-functional (e.g., legal, strategic sourcing, etc.) counterparts.
• Plan economic resource utilization by accurate budget preparation and expense monitoring.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders to drive collaboration and alignment between multiple teams.
• Mentor and guide team members and ensure they have all the resources required to complete their assigned tasks.
• Engage in hiring, performance management, and other people processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• High school diploma/ GED required.
• A bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field is preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience in health care, laboratory purchasing, strategic sourcing, or procurement OR High school diploma/ GED with 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Some experience with GPOs is preferred.
• Proven experience in developing standardized contracts, leases, service agreements, and other purchasing-related control documents.
• Experience managing projects/ processes end-to-end, including resources and/or vendors.
• Substantial experience managing communication and collaboration with internal cross-functional teams and/or external partners, preferred.
• Experience managing people as direct reports.
• Proven performance in earlier role.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required by SJCRH Only:

• Certified Materials and Research Professional (CMRP) credential awarded by the Association of Healthcare Resource & Materials Management is preferred.

Special Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Able to draw insights from different sets of data and quickly understand why issues are happening.
• Solves problems quickly by identifying the root causes.
• Encourages others to see the opportunities ahead amidst changing circumstances even when the details have not been finalized.
• Applies advanced strategies in identifying and negotiating with stakeholders and offers expert consultation for effectiveness in procurement operations.
• Constantly seeks out best practices and is able to use advanced data analysis and market-leading insights to optimize procurement and sourcing processes.
• Keeps teams energized and focused on high-quality results.
• Thinks long-term in building and executing metrics-driven plans and stretch goals for St. Jude.
• Builds structures and processes with clear lines of authority and accountability so teams know what they are empowered and accountable to do.
• Understand needs, expectations, and concerns of key stakeholders and proactively provide counsel and advice, keeping in mind sensitivities and dynamics.
• Breaks down challenges faced by business stakeholders into actionable steps with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Builds strong relationships with key stakeholders through trust and effective communications.
• Can present/facilitate independently in senior-level meetings. Presents information as a structured story and anticipates questions well.
• Addresses difficult questions and challenges effectively.
• Able to effectively influence others using facts and logic.
• Supports the creation of a functional strategy by understanding how the different parts of the function connect and drives execution in an aligned and cohesive manner.
• Looks for, tracks, and analyzes data to draw out strategic insights that can add value to the function/ business.
• Understands how the budgeting process works and can make choices along the way to ensure that their own area/ function delivers its budgetary goals. 

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to toxic and caustic material.
• Occasionally, the employee may be exposed to outside weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
• An essential function of the job is to be able to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local safety and health regulations that would apply to this job.
• The employee must move about the workspace to access work surfaces and shelves, cabinets, drawers, and equipment that are at, below, or above the work surface.
• Nothing in this job description limits management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time as business needs dictate.
• This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $78,000 - $139,360 per year for the role of Manager-Procurement & Sustainability (Food Buyer).

Explore our exceptional benefits!

No Search Firms

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.