Senior Manager, Corporate Sourcing

ABOUT ALBERT USTER IMPORTS

Albert Uster Imports, Inc. (“AUI”) is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in the Washington, DC area (Gaithersburg, MD) with warehouse locations in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Gaithersburg. AUI falls under the Vestar Capital Partners portfolio with affiliate organization, Roland Foods, LLC.

Founded in 1968, the company offers over 1,400 products from around the world. We serve leading hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, airlines, and manufacturers with innovative, high quality products and solutions to their most demanding culinary challenges. We operate a network of distribution centers across the U.S. and serve select international markets as well. AUI has a national direct selling organization of over 60 sales professionals and a staff of culinary experts (chefs and food scientists) adept at custom product solutions.

 

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a dynamic Senior Corporate Sourcing Manager to join our growing AUI team! In this role, you will play a pivotal role in driving corporate account business development through customized sourcing solutions and innovative strategies. You will oversee key corporate sourcing projects within our Innovation Team, ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely product delivery. We are looking for an individual with a deep understanding of the foodservice industry landscape, Perficient project management skills, and the ability to cultivate lasting relationships with both corporate clients and suppliers.

As a response to the pandemic, Albert Uster Imports Inc. office employees have transitioned to a hybrid working schedule, requiring employees to report in-person Monday through Wednesday, with the option to telework on Thursday and Friday each week. Due to the collaborative, cross-functional nature of the organization, employees at the Gaithersburg office are required to work in-person for the abovementioned days, outside of any People & Culture-approved disability accommodation request.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Corporate Sourcing and Innovation Projects

• Manage corporate account sourcing and development projects by maintaining strong supplier relationships to aid in negotiations and contract management. Ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and timely delivery of products to close wins
• Evaluate supplier capabilities and maintain a well-established sourcing network. Travel to domestic and international trade shows to identify product opportunities for corporate accounts
• Manage other assigned Innovation projects and supplier relationships as required.
• Collaborate and support corporate sales team to identify business opportunities through tailored sourcing solutions and market innovation
• Support in corporate customer presentations and strategic business development initiatives, including providing product solution proposals and travel to corporate customer sites as necessary

Project Management

• Oversee end-to-end project management, including planning, pricing, execution, and leading multi-functional team to complete sourcing projects and close wins
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables, ensuring projects are completed within set timelines and budgets

Performance Tracking and Reporting

• Maintain metrics, KPIs, and dashboards to track sourcing performance, measure results, and report insights to senior management
• Generate reports and provide insights to senior management on business development progress, key account performance, and project statuses
• Share insights and contribute to the planning of AUI Innovation pipeline

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required

• 3-5 years of experience in business development, key account management, and sourcing/project management within the food industry or related sectors
• Proficiency in project management, specifically leading multi-functional teams
• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Strong food product knowledge
• Understanding of product sourcing through domestic and international supplier networks
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret