PURPOSE

This position will act as the primary point of contact for suppliers, Inspire team members and franchisees for sourcing of food, beverages and packaging, supplier development, product importation, and distribution.  The position will support the development of supply chain strategies that promote profitable restaurant growth, international supply chain revenue growth, strategic product consistency, and create efficiencies in the Asia Pacific region.

Responsible for supplier development, sourcing, custom product revenue collection, and path-to-market functions for Inspire Brands within the APAC region.   The position will be responsible for ensuring supply to our franchisees, identifying opportunities for cost-savings and local sourcing, and will act as the key supply chain liaison in new market openings.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Manage day-to-day supply chain related activities within assigned region.

• Problem-solve supply chain challenges and ensure supply.

• Oversee supplier development and relationships within region for core & proprietary products.

• Interface with franchisees & local distribution partners on product importation, product availability, product changes, and other supply and logistics related communications.

• Provide supply chain related support to internal cross-functional stakeholders, working closely with Culinary and Marketing to bring new menu items to market.

• Track and collect custom product fees from approved suppliers of strategic, proprietary items.

2. Identify and implement supply chain strategies, cost-savings and revenue-creating opportunities

• Responsible to identify and implement sourcing opportunities and strategies to optimize cost of goods sold and supply chain revenue, including export/import versus local supply decisions.

• Document supply chain optimization plans that increase efficiency and anticipate supply chain needs in a growing enterprise.  

• Includes opportunities to consolidate supply across markets for quality standardization and cost efficiencies.

• Develop a committed and creative in-regional supplier base to execute purchasing strategies for strategic products. 

• Monitor macro trends, implement plans to react, and execute purchasing strategies that ensure stability. 

• Report trends and progress regularly to APAC regional business team and franchisees.

3. Minimize Risk of Supply Disruption

• Identify supply and supplier issues.

• Analyze information to assess root cause, improvement opportunities, and associated risk.

• Develop solutions and gain consensus to resolve supply issues. Identify secondary supplier opportunities.

4. Enable New-Market Entry

• Identify and implement the right sourcing solutions (suppliers and products) to meet the menu needs with safe, compliant product at the best available costs.

• Collaborate with cross-functional team members for product approval alignment (marketing, culinary, operations, & food safety).

• Identify & onboard export and local distribution partners.

• Enable and support the new franchisee to open the market with the needed products in the planned timeframe.

5. Data Management & Supply Chain Market Profiles

• Document profiles by market that record information related to suppliers, products, freight forwarders, lead-times, distribution partners, and key contact information by market. 

• Maintain accurate pricing and pricing expiry information from regional suppliers for core products.

• Monitor supplier and distributor performance as it relates to their Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).

• Obtain regular product consumption data for core products by market.

6. Other responsibilities as assigned by management

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 4 Year Bachelor’s degree in related field

• Minimum of 5+ years experience in supply chain and procurement in food industry. Ideal candidate will also have experience in managing multi-country supply chains with strong grasp of sourcing and importing/exporting procedures.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS or ABILITIES

• Fluent in English

• Restaurant / Food Service/ Protein industry experience required

• Financial analysis skills

• Experience in procurement and negotiation strategies

• Understand and function effectively in a team environment

• Strong interpersonal skills. 

• Proven track record of success in leading and influencing franchisee and other non-reporting relationships

• Product development or manufacturing experience, a plus

• Analytical & problem-solving skills

• Travel required in assigned markets and region, and to USA as needed for corporate interface.    Travel requirements may be more or less in any period based upon initiatives and needs.

 

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.