Job Description

We seek a President  & CEO of Foodservice Equipment & Supplies to lead all business development, dealer relations, vendor relations, and member services aspects our buying group organization. This will provide strategic direction and leadership to maximize member benefits, drive collective purchasing power, and ensure organizational growth and sustainability. This position reports directly to the CEO. Our client is a leading iondustry buying group (GPO.)

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Refine and implement the buying group's evolving strategic vision, mission, and long-term objectives
• Identify growth opportunities through new member acquisition, additional service offerings, and market expansion
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and manufacturing partners
• Oversee contract negotiations to secure optimal pricing, rebates, and terms for member organizations

Operational Management

• Direct all operational aspects of the buying group, ensuring efficient and effective processes
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators to track organizational success
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance member value and operational efficiency

Financial Oversight:

• Work with the CEO, and executive team, to ensure the organization's financial health by overseeing the preparation of financial reports, monitoring performance against budget, and ensuring proper resource allocation.
• Develop strategies to maximize cost savings and improve group purchasing power, while enhancing member profitability.
• Work with the CEO, and executive team, to ensure accurate financial reporting and effective risk management.

Member Engagement

• Serve as the primary advocate and representative for member interests
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with member organizations at executive levels
• Create transparent communication strategies to keep members informed of group activities, opportunities, and benefits
• Implement programs to increase member participation and maximize program utilization

Supplier Engagement

• Create and sustain an environment conducive to positive sales growth for suppliers
• Maintain trust relationships with suppliers at executive levels
• Create transparent communication strategies to keep suppliers informed of activities, opportunities, and benefits
• Implement programs to increase supplier participation and maximize program utilization

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and inspire the executive team, fostering a high-performance collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement (CI) culture.
• Ensure the hiring, development, and retention of top talent to support the organization’s growth and operational needs.
• Provide regular performance evaluations and professional development opportunities for all team members.

Governance & Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with all relevant industry regulations, laws, and internal policies, maintaining a high standard of corporate governance.
• Provide regular updates and reports to the Board of Directors on key performance indicators, business developments, and strategic initiatives.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of procurement processes, contract negotiation, and vendor management
• Financial acumen with the ability to analyze complex data and make informed decisions
• Excellent communication and relationship-building capabilities
• Experience with governance models and board relations
• Change management and organizational development expertise

Personal Attributes

• Visionary thinker with entrepreneurial spirit
• Strong ethical foundation and commitment to transparency
• Resilient leader capable of navigating complex stakeholder environments
• Exceptional negotiation and consensus-building abilities
• Results-oriented with a focus on member value creation

Must-haves:

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role within the Foodservice Equipment & Supplies industry, ideally within a buying group, purchasing cooperative, or similar membership-based organization.
• Unquestioned integrity and deep relationships within the commercial foodservice equipment and supplies industry and other markets served by our client.
• Strong understanding of financial management, including budgeting, financial reporting, and strategic financial planning.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills, with a track record of building and maintaining strong relationships with members, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker passionate about innovation and deeply understanding the market dynamics affecting group purchasing and supply chain management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams, develop organizational culture, and implement operational improvements.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field (MBA preferred).

Like to haves:

• Experience with procurement software and data analytics platforms
• Strong background in contract negotiations and vendor management
• Technology savvy in CRM, Supply Chain software, AI, and social media 

If you qualify for this one-of-a-kind opporunity, upload your resume and Craig Wilson will reach out for this immediate hire!
cwilson@ariteam.com