Director, Procurement- Beef & Pork
saval foodserviceBaltimore (MD)
Director, Procurement- Beef & Pork
Posted 10 days ago
saval foodserviceBaltimore (MD)
SENIORITY
Manager
About the role
Saval Foods is seeking an experienced and strategic Director, Procurement – Beef & Pork to lead all meat purchasing activities across three of our operating businesses: Saval Foodservice, Deli Brands of America (DBA), and 1932 Specialty Produce & Meat. This is a high-impact leadership position responsible for managing a significant combined purchasing portfolio, developing strong supplier relationships, navigating volatile commodity markets, and maximizing profitability through effective purchasing strategies. The position will primarily focus on beef and pork procurement, along with smaller-volume purchasing of veal, lamb, and poultry as required by the businesses. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the meat industry, a deep understanding of beef and pork markets, and the ability to balance the unique purchasing requirements of foodservice distribution, meat manufacturing, and premium steak fabrication. This individual will play a critical role in leveraging the combined purchasing power of our three businesses while ensuring each operation receives the right products, at the right specifications, at the most competitive cost. We are looking for a strategic, commercially minded leader who understands that successful meat purchasing is not simply about securing the lowest price. It is about understanding the markets, building supplier partnerships, managing risk, and consistently creating value through intelligent purchasing decisions. Key Responsibilities1. Strategic Protein Procurement Develop and execute a comprehensive meat purchasing strategy across all three operating businesses. Leverage the combined purchasing volume of Saval Foodservice, DBA, and 1932 to negotiate competitive pricing and favorable supplier terms. Establish and maintain strategic relationships with major beef and pork packers, processors, and suppliers. Monitor commodity markets, cattle and hog supply trends, processing capacity, and industry conditions to anticipate pricing and supply changes. Identify opportunities for forward purchasing, contracted pricing, and strategic inventory positions when market conditions justify them. Develop purchasing strategies that balance cost, availability, product quality, inventory investment, and profitability. Identify new suppliers, alternative sourcing opportunities, and programs that provide a competitive advantage.2. Deli Brands of America (DBA): Manufacturing ProcurementOversee the purchasing of all beef, pork, and other protein raw materials, including poultry as needed, for DBA's manufacturing operations.
Responsibilities include:
Source beef, pork, and other protein raw materials that meet the specifications and production requirements of DBA's manufacturing operations.
Work closely with production, operations, sales, and product development teams to anticipate raw material needs.
Develop sourcing strategies for fresh and frozen raw materials that optimize finished-product costs.
Evaluate raw material alternatives, trim specifications, yields, and formulations to improve manufacturing margins without compromising quality.
Negotiate pricing programs and supply agreements that support customer contracts and manufacturing commitments.
Manage supply continuity and minimize exposure to commodity market fluctuations.
Support new product development by identifying cost-effective raw materials and sourcing opportunities.3. Saval Foodservice: Boxed Beef ProcurementOversee all boxed beef purchasing for Saval Foodservice's distribution business.
Responsibilities include:
Manage purchasing of boxed beef products across all grades, cuts, and supplier programs.
Maintain strong relationships with major beef packers and branded beef suppliers.
Develop purchasing strategies that support competitive customer pricing while maximizing gross profit.
Monitor boxed beef cutout values, primal and subprimal pricing, and market movements to identify buying opportunities.
Collaborate with the sales and merchandising teams on product availability, customer programs, and pricing strategies.
Manage inventory levels and product rotation to minimize shrink, aging inventory, and unnecessary carrying costs.
Identify opportunities to expand premium beef programs, improve product mix, and differentiate Saval from competing distributors.4. 1932 Specialty Produce & Meat: Cut Steak ProcurementOversee all meat procurement for 1932's fabrication operation, including beef, veal, lamb, and other specialty proteins as needed.
Responsibilities include:
- Source premium beef subprimals, veal, lamb, and other raw materials required for custom steak cutting and fabrication.
- Work closely with the 1932 production team to ensure raw materials meet customer specifications, quality standards, and production requirements.
- Evaluate raw material costs, fabrication yields, trim values, and finished-product profitability.
- Identify opportunities to capitalize on favorable market conditions through strategic purchasing and inventory management.
- Support premium beef programs, custom-cut steak initiatives, and new customer opportunities.
- Coordinate with the sales and operations teams to ensure reliable supply for customer commitments.5. Cross-Company Purchasing Optimization
- A key responsibility of this role will be identifying opportunities to create value through coordinated purchasing across all three businesses.
- Consolidate purchasing volume where appropriate to strengthen negotiating leverage with suppliers.
- Identify opportunities to purchase common raw materials that can serve multiple operating businesses.
- Coordinate purchasing and inventory strategies to reduce redundant inventory and improve product utilization.
- Evaluate opportunities to redirect raw materials or inventory between operations when economically beneficial.
- Work with operations and finance to establish clear purchasing economics and accurate cost reporting for each business.
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability through strategic sourcing, improved yields, supplier programs, and inventory management.
- Ensure each business maintains the flexibility necessary to meet its individual operating and customer requirements.6. Supplier Management & Market Intelligence
- Develop strong, long-term relationships with key packers, processors, brokers, and protein suppliers.
- Negotiate competitive pricing, volume commitments, freight terms, and supply agreements.
- Maintain a deep understanding of USDA market reports, boxed beef values, cattle and hog markets, and industry supply-and-demand trends.
- Provide regular market updates and purchasing recommendations to senior leadership.
- Evaluate supplier performance based on pricing, quality, fill rates, service, and consistency.
- Develop contingency sourcing strategies to protect the businesses against supply disruptions.7. Financial Performance & Inventory Management
- Take ownership of purchasing performance and its impact on gross profit across all three businesses.
- Work with finance and operations to establish inventory targets and performance metrics.
- Monitor inventory aging, market exposure, product turnover, and purchasing variances.
- Identify opportunities to improve margins through favorable buying, supplier negotiations, and reduced inventory losses.
- Provide management with regular reporting on purchasing performance, market trends, and cost-saving initiatives.
- Maintain disciplined purchasing controls and ensure compliance with company procurement policies.
Qualifications:
- Required 10+ years of experience in beef and/or pork purchasing, meat procurement, or protein category management.
- Significant experience purchasing beef from or working for the major packers
- Strong understanding of beef primals, subprimals, grades, specifications, yields, and commodity pricing.
- Proven ability to negotiate large-volume purchasing agreements and build strategic supplier relationships.
- Thorough understanding of meat commodity markets and the factors that influence pricing and availability.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including margin management, inventory economics, and cost analysis.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams, including sales, operations, manufacturing, and finance.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
Before you apply
Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.
Your profile is current
It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.
Two examples you can talk through
Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.
A number in mind
What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.
Your notice period
Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.
Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.