Vice President, Packaging Sourcing & Procurement

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were 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 youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

The Vice President Packaging Sourcing & Procurement will lead Kinders enterprise sourcing and procurement strategy across all packaging categories building the supplier network commercial capabilities and supply continuity plans required to support continued profitable growth.

As Kinders expands its portfolio channels innovation pipeline and manufacturing network this leader will create a scalable packaging procurement function that can support the speed of an entrepreneurial business and the complexity of a rapidly growing CPG company. The Vice President will have broad responsibility for category strategy supplier selection and development negotiations and contracting cost and productivity supplier performance risk management and packaging supply continuity.

Working across Packaging Engineering R&D Innovation Operations Planning Quality Supply Chain Finance and external manufacturing partners this leader will ensure Kinders has the right packaging suppliers materials capacity commercial agreements and contingency plans to support both current operations and future growth.

The ideal candidate combines deep packaging-category knowledge with strong commercial judgment and enterprise leadership. They understand the supplier markets manufacturing processes cost drivers and supply risks behind major packaging categories and can translate that knowledge into sourcing strategies that improve cost service quality innovation and resilience.

• Develop and lead Kinders enterprise sourcing and procurement strategy across all packaging materials and components.
• Translate business plans demand growth innovation pipelines and manufacturing requirements into long-term packaging category supplier capacity and continuity strategies.
• Establish multi-year sourcing roadmaps that balance cost quality service innovation sustainability speed to market and supply resilience.
• Serve as the senior packaging sourcing subject-matter expert advising executive and functional leaders on packaging markets supplier capabilities capacity constraints commodity exposure commercial risks and opportunities.
• Build scalable sourcing processes procurement governance category-management standards contracting practices and decision frameworks that create greater consistency and discipline as Kinders grows.
• Maintain a strong external perspective on packaging markets materials converters supplier capabilities cost drivers capacity trends and industry developments.

• Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies across corrugate flexible films rigid plastics bottles jars closures labels cartons and other packaging components.
• Lead supplier identification competitive bidding negotiation selection contracting onboarding performance management and development.
• Establish a resilient and scalable supplier ecosystem capable of supporting Kinders growth innovation pipeline geographic footprint service requirements and quality expectations.
• Evaluate suppliers based on capacity capabilities technology geographic coverage cost structure financial health lead times service quality and continuity risk.
• Determine the appropriate supplier strategy for each category balancing consolidation competitive tension specialization geographic coverage and risk diversification.
• Negotiate commercial agreements covering pricing capacity commitments service levels lead times payment terms tooling inventory arrangements and other critical business requirements.
• Build strategic relationships with key packaging manufacturers and converters to improve Kinders access to capacity market intelligence innovation and emerging capabilities.
• Establish supplier scorecards and business-review processes that create accountability for cost quality service responsiveness innovation and continuous improvement.

• Own packaging supply continuity strategy across Kinders supplier and manufacturing network.
• Identify critical materials sole-source exposure capacity constraints long lead times geographic concentration tooling dependencies and other vulnerabilities that could disrupt production or customer service.
• Develop dual-source alternate-supplier contingency and inventory strategies for critical packaging components where appropriate.
• Partner with Planning Operations Packaging Engineering and suppliers to ensure packaging capacity and material availability support demand growth new-product launches promotional activity and changes across Kinders internal manufacturing and co-manufacturing network.
• Establish forward-looking supplier-capacity reviews and risk-monitoring processes that provide early visibility into potential constraints and disruptions.
• Lead supplier escalation and recovery efforts when packaging availability capacity quality or service issues threaten business continuity.
• Ensure contracts and supplier agreements include appropriate protections capacity commitments continuity provisions and performance expectations.
• Build executive-level visibility into packaging supply risks mitigation plans and major supplier dependencies.

• Own the packaging sourcing productivity agenda identifying opportunities to reduce total cost while protecting quality performance service supply continuity and brand equity.
• Build and deliver a multi-year productivity pipeline tied to measurable savings margin improvement supplier optimization and working-capital opportunities.
• Develop transparent packaging cost models that provide visibility into raw materials conversion freight tooling inventory and other key cost drivers.
• Monitor packaging commodity markets and supplier cost inputs proactively identifying inflationary and deflationary trends and developing appropriate negotiation and risk-management strategies.
• Lead competitive bids supplier negotiations contract renewals and commercial reviews using market intelligence clean-sheet thinking and total cost of ownership.
• Partner with Packaging Engineering and cross-functional teams to evaluate specification material format and pack-configuration changes that may create cost or supply advantages.
• Lead supplier material and sourcing evaluations using total cost of ownership and long-term strategic value rather than unit price alone.
• Establish disciplined processes for validating tracking and reporting realized savings cost avoidance working-capital improvements and other procurement value.

• Engage early in the innovation and commercialization process to identify capable suppliers confirm capacity establish commercial terms and surface cost or supply risks before launch decisions are finalized.
• Partner with Packaging Engineering R&D Quality Operations and Marketing to ensure sourcing decisions meet established technical performance food-safety manufacturing and consumer requirements.
• Bring supplier capabilities material alternatives market intelligence and cost implications into packaging and product-development decisions.
• Ensure new packaging suppliers and materials complete the appropriate technical qualification quality approval documentation contracting and onboarding processes before commercial use.
• Coordinate with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support successful commercialization and a reliable transition into ongoing supply.
• Create clear commercial and supply-management ownership while relying on Packaging Engineering and Quality for technical specifications testing validation and approval.

• Partner with Food Safety and Quality Assurance Regulatory Packaging Engineering and Operations to ensure packaging suppliers and materials meet Kinders established requirements.
• Establish supplier performance expectations and corrective-action processes covering quality service capacity responsiveness and commercial performance.
• Lead the commercial and supplier-management response to significant quality service or continuity issues.
• Ensure packaging specifications and approved changes are accurately reflected in supplier agreements procurement systems and commercial terms.
• Incorporate relevant sustainability and responsible-sourcing requirements into category strategies supplier selection contracts and performance reviews.
• Partner with Packaging Engineering and other stakeholders to identify suppliers and material options that support material reduction recyclability recycled content packaging efficiency and waste reduction.
• Monitor evolving packaging regulations retailer expectations and industry standards that may affect supplier availability material economics or continuity of supply.

• Build lead and develop a high-performing packaging sourcing and procurement organization capable of supporting Kinders current business and future scale.
• Define the organizational structure capabilities roles category ownership and expertise required as the portfolio and manufacturing network expand.
• Attract develop coach and retain exceptional sourcing and procurement talent while creating clear accountability and opportunities for growth.
• Establish a culture of commercial rigor curiosity speed ownership collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen cross-functional understanding of packaging markets supplier capabilities cost drivers commercial risks and supply-continuity requirements.
• Create strong operating rhythms metrics and performance expectations that provide visibility into category strategies sourcing initiatives supplier performance savings risk and continuity priorities.

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Procurement Business Packaging Science Engineering or a related field required; advanced degree or MBA preferred.
• 12 years of progressive strategic sourcing procurement or category-management experience within food beverage CPG or another high-volume consumer manufacturing environment including significant leadership responsibility.
• Proven experience leading packaging sourcing or procurement across multiple categories such as flexible films corrugate labels cartons rigid plastics bottles jars and closures.
• Deep knowledge of packaging supplier markets converters manufacturing processes cost structures commercial levers lead times capacity considerations and supply risks.
• Demonstrated success building and executing enterprise category strategies that improve cost service quality capacity and supply resilience.
• Strong experience leading complex negotiations competitive bids supplier selection contracting supplier development and performance management.
• Proven ability to develop dual-source contingency and supplier-risk strategies for critical packaging materials and components.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering meaningful productivity cost reduction cost avoidance and working-capital improvement using total cost of ownership rather than unit price alone.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen including experience with packaging cost models commodity exposure conversion costs freight tooling payment terms and supplier economics.
• Sufficient technical packaging knowledge to evaluate supplier capabilities and partner effectively with Packaging Engineering R&D Quality Operations and manufacturing teams; this role does not directly own packaging engineering or technical design.
• Experience supporting innovation and commercialization by securing supplier capability capacity pricing contracts and continuity plans ahead of launch.
• Demonstrated ability to build and develop high-performing sourcing and procurement teams and establish scalable processes governance metrics and capabilities within a growing organization.
• Executive-level communication and cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and effectively partner across Packaging Engineering R&D Innovation Marketing Operations Planning Supply Chain Quality and Finance.
• Thrives in a fast-paced entrepreneurial high-growth environment balancing strategic leadership with a willingness to stay close to the work and drive execution.

At Kinders our leaders are expected to think and act beyond the boundaries of their individual function. The Vice President Packaging will model a Makers Mentalitycombining curiosity ownership urgency and a willingness to solve difficult problems.

This leader will bring Craft Pride to the technical quality and consumer experience of our packaging; build Capability Scale by creating the systems talent supplier network and technologies required for continued growth; and demonstrate Collaboration Inclusion by bringing together diverse perspectives across functions to make better decisions for the business.

Success in this role requires a leader who cansetthe strategy buildthe capability and still roll up their sleeves when the business needs it.

Within the first 1224 months the Vice President Packaging Sourcing & Procurement will have:

• Established clear enterprise category strategies and a multi-year packaging sourcing roadmap aligned with Kinders growth plans innovation pipeline manufacturing network and financial objectives.
• Built stronger visibility into packaging spend supplier capacity contracts cost drivers market dynamics and supply risk across all critical categories.
• Strengthened and diversified Kinders packaging supplier network reducing critical sole-source exposure and improving continuity of supply.
• Established forward-looking capacity and continuity plans that support demand growth new-product launches promotional activity and the expanding manufacturing network.
• Delivered a measurable pipeline of savings cost avoidance supplier optimization and working-capital improvements.
• Improved supplier performance and accountability through clear scorecards business reviews service expectations and corrective-action processes.
• Integrated Sourcing earlier into innovation and commercialization decisions so supplier capability capacity cost lead time and continuity risks are understood before launch commitments are made.
• Established meaningful procurement metrics and operating rhythms that give leadership visibility into savings supplier performance contracts capacity risk and business-continuity priorities.
• Built a strong packaging sourcing and procurement organization with the category expertise commercial rigor leadership depth and cross-functional credibility required to support Kinders next stage of growth.

Location and Travel

The position will be based onsite in Walnut Creek CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun. Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $275000 - $300000per salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay rangeKindersreasonably expectsto offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will bedeterminedbased on factors such as relevant education experience qualifications skills and business needs.

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont live by hierarchy and structure everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off 401k bonus / incentive eligibility equity grants competitive health benefits and other family-friendly benefits including parental leave. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

We believe great culture starts with people. Were a people-first company built on connection collaboration and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

Kinders is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender citizenship marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran status as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at