Standard Meat Company - Director of Supply Chain

 

About Us

Setting the standard in meat portioning, Standard Meat is an innovative team of meat processing and packaging experts—your customized protein solutions authority. Established in 1935 to service local restaurants and hotels, we have four facilities in the DFW area and a fifth is under construction. Unlike most meat packaging companies today, we’re still family owned and operated with the fourth generation currently at the helm.  We are dedicated to supplying not just quality products, but customized solutions and we pride ourselves on being a great place to work.  At Standard Meat, we know that our people are the main reason for our success.  And we believe that the only way to truly succeed is to do business with integrity, build trusted connections, and solve impossible challenges.

Purpose:  To inspire the connections and breakthroughs that ultimately feed our life.

Our Core Values:

• Integrity – Standing by your word no matter what.
• Care – Creating moments of genuine connection and support.
• Determination – Going the extra mile to deliver excellence.
• Scrappiness – Tackling problems in clever and resourceful ways.
• Celebration – Acknowledging others’ strengths and accomplishments.
  
  

Learn more at www.standardmeat.com

  

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Supply Chain to lead and optimize our supply chain operations in a dynamic protein manufacturing environment. This role is critical for ensuring the seamless procurement, management, and distribution of raw materials, ingredients, and dry goods essential for the production of chicken, beef, and pork products. The Director of Supply Chain will be our in-house subject matter expert on the protein markets and will analyze current trends and present thoughtful buy strategies to the senior leadership team. The ideal candidate will have strong supplier relationships, a deep understanding of protein markets, and the ability to navigate macroeconomic factors impacting the industry.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the supply chain strategy of a multigenerational protein company, ensuring the efficient production and delivery of high-quality products to our customers. The position reports directly to the COO and will oversee a team that includes purchasing support, transportation and logistics, and storage and distribution.

 

Responsibilities

• Supply Chain Strategy: Develop and execute supply chain strategies that align with business objectives and ensure the continuous availability of raw materials and ingredients for production.
• Purchasing & Procurement: Oversee the procurement process for raw protein materials, ingredients, and dry goods, ensuring cost-effective and timely acquisition to meet production schedules.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the sales team to align supply chain activities with customer buying strategies. Collaborate with operations and production scheduling teams to ensure just-in-time production and minimize downtime.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Leverage existing supplier contacts and establish new relationships to secure competitive pricing, quality, and delivery of raw protein materials, ingredients, and dry goods.
• Market Analysis: Monitor and analyze protein markets and macroeconomic trends to inform purchasing decisions and mitigate risks related to price volatility and supply chain disruptions.
• Logistics & Transportation: Manage logistics operations, including freight matrices, third-party logistics carriers, and route optimization to ensure timely delivery of products to customers.
• Inventory Management: Manage inventory levels to ensure the availability of raw materials while optimizing storage costs and minimizing waste.
• Cold Storage and Internal Warehousing Management: Oversee warehousing strategies, including both internal warehouses and third-party cold storage facilities.  Ensure the proper storage and handling of perishable goods. 
• Process Improvement and Technology: Identify opportunities for process improvements within the supply chain, focusing on efficiency, cost reduction, service excellence, and risk mitigation.  Innovate with advanced supply chain technologies to operate efficiently, effectively monitor performance and drive improvement.  
• Risk Management: Develop risk mitigation strategies to address potential supply chain disruptions, ensuring contingency plans are in place for sourcing and logistics of protein products. Focus on regulatory compliance in areas such as food safety, environmental regulations, and labor standards.
• Sustainability: Lead initiatives to enhance supply chain sustainability by reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and sourcing sustainable materials. Collaborate with suppliers on sustainable practices, including animal welfare and ethical sourcing, and support CSR efforts to lower the company's carbon footprint and improve protein sourcing sustainability.
• Financial Management: Manage the supply chain budget, ensuring cost control across procurement, production, logistics, and warehousing. Analyze costs to enhance profitability while maintaining quality and customer satisfaction, and present financial reports and forecasts to senior leadership to justify expenses and investments.
• Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure all supply chain operations comply with industry regulations, including food safety, environmental laws, and trade policies. Implement quality assurance processes to maintain product integrity and oversee audits and inspections for safety and compliance across the supply chain.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and develop the supply chain team, promoting continuous improvement and operational excellence. Set performance goals and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with company objectives and optimize the overall supply chain.

 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Meat Science, Animal Science, and/or studies in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related fields
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in supply chain management within the protein or food processing industry or foodservice space, with a focus on chicken, beef, and pork further processing
• Strong network of supplier contacts in the protein industry
• Proven experience in procurement, inventory management, logistics, and cold storage management

 

Knowledge, Skills and Character Traits 

• In-depth knowledge of protein markets, macroeconomic factors, and their impact on supply chain operations
• Exceptional business acumen; able to identify operational and financial solutions that optimize business outcomes
• Excellent operational deployment skills with the ability to integrate and align strategy, people, and activities across functions, processes, and teams
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• An owner’s mindset; responsible, accountable, and caring
• Solutions orientation; creative, proactive, and innovative
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and influence at all levels of the organization
• Proficiency in supply chain management software and tools

 

We value diversity and commit to making hiring decisions based on the skills and character traits that correlate to being successful in this job. We are an equal opportunity employer and we welcome your application!  All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.