Sr. Director, Sourcing (Protein)

BUILT ON FLAVOR.  FUELED BY PEOPLE. What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.      With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships . Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.   As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!  Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.  About the Role: Kinder’s is aggressively expanding into protein, including meat snacks and frozen products, and we’re looking for a sourcing leader who knows this space and is excited to help build it. The Sr. Director, Sourcing (Protein) will own and scale our sourcing capabilities across protein and core ingredients—building the supplier network, navigating market volatility, and enabling rapid product innovation. This is not a maintenance role. You’ll be stepping into a business that is scaling quickly, where structure is still being built and priorities evolve fast.  This role is ideal for someone who brings deep subject matter expertise in protein sourcing and wants to take a hands-on role in shaping how sourcing operates at a growing, entrepreneurial company.   *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-(--header-height)" data-turn-id="bdf5638c-a114-455f-aa9e-405d00ca3c44" data-testid="conversation-turn-1" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="user"> Key Responsibilities Include: Build & Scale Protein Sourcing Own sourcing strategy across protein categories (beef, pork, chicken) and key ingredients    Build and evolve sourcing capabilities to support rapid expansion into meat snacks, frozen, and new product formats    Partner closely with R&D and Commercialization to bring new products to market quickly and efficiently    Own the Supplier Network Build and manage direct relationships with processors, suppliers, and producers    Make calls on supplier  selection , diversification, and when to go direct vs. leverage co-man sourcing    Establish a resilient supply base that can scale with the business and handle volatility    Navigate Complexity & Market Volatility Operate confidently in protein markets—managing pricing swings, availability constraints, yields, and specs    Stay close to the market and make informed, real-time decisions to protect supply and margin    Use data and tools ( Mintec , Urner Barry, commodity indices) but also bring strong judgment and instincts    Drive Cost, Value & Commercial Outcomes Lead negotiations and structure agreements that balance cost, flexibility, and long-term partnership Identify  and execute on cost savings, efficiency gains, and value creation opportunities    Understand and influence total cost (not just price), including yield, specs, and operational impact Ensure Quality & Execution Partner with Quality and Operations to ensure all inputs meet food safety, regulatory, and product standards    Align specifications across suppliers and co-manufacturers    Anticipate and mitigate supply, quality, and cold-chain risks—especially for frozen and perishable products     Be a Cross-Functional Operator Work closely with Co-Manufacturing, Supply Planning, Demand Planning, and Operations to ensure sourcing aligns with production realities Act as the connective tissue between suppliers and internal teams to keep things moving    Step into gaps, solve problems, and keep projects advancing without waiting for perfect structure    What You Bring To The Table: Deep  expertise  in protein sourcing—you understand the realities of this space and have  operated  in it directly    Builder mindset— you’re  comfortable creating structure, not just  operating  within it    Strong ownership mentality—you take accountability and move things forward    Education / Experience 10+ years of experience in sourcing within food/CPG, with significant hands-on experience in protein   Direct experience working with processors, producers, and/or sourcing at origin    Strong understanding of protein markets: pricing mechanisms, yields, specifications, and supply constraints    Experience supporting commercialization and scaling products, ideally across meat snacks and/or frozen    Business and Operational Acumen Solid understanding of end-to-end supply chain, including co-manufacturing and cold chain    Ability to connect sourcing decisions to downstream operational and  financial impact     Track record  of delivering results in fast-moving, less structured environments Ways of Working Highly collaborative, but not dependent on perfect alignment to move forward    Clear communicator who can work across functions and with external partners Grounded, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented   Additional Requirements Ability to travel up to 30% as needed    What Success Looks Like You’ve  built a  sourcing  network that can support aggressive growth across protein and frozen categories    You’re  ahead of market shifts and proactively managing risk, not reacting to it    Suppliers view Kinder’s as a strong, credible partner    New products launch smoothly because sourcing is aligned early and effectively    The business trusts your judgment and relies on you to navigate complexity   Location and Travel: The position will be based onsite in Walnut Creek, CA. 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