Purchasing Manager - International Dairy Queen, Inc.

Since 1940, Dairy Queen® has been one of the world’s best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Purchasing Manager located at our corporate office in Bloomington, MN.  The Purchasing Manager negotiates and manages purchasing programs with approved suppliers for sale to endorsed distributors, in order to have adequate quantities of approved product at competitive prices for the franchisees, and to provide a profit for the organization.  Follows up with manufacturers and trouble-shoots to resolve issues such as shipment shortages to distributors, pricing discrepancies, product complaints or delays in production. Utilizes basic risk management programs to mitigate risk exposure and supply disruptions.  Ensures inventory is at adequate levels across all distributors.  Assist in preparation of the USCI annual profit plan. 

Key Accountabilities Include:

Negotiations and Communications with Suppliers:

• Negotiates pricing and freight with approved suppliers to ensure competitive prices, availability, and to enhance franchisee profitability. Negotiates 1-3 year contracts, to ensure optimum costs, risk mitigation and reliable supply.
• Understands commodity price drivers, raw materials sourcing, production and can implement basic risk management strategies.
• Supports the efforts of marketing in establishing a promotional calendar, then works with suppliers to make sure adequate inventory is available to meet the demand of system sales and/or test markets.  Follows up with manufacturers and trouble-shoots to resolve shipment shortages to distribution centers.
• Negotiates, where necessary, and ensures timely and accurate supplier compliance with USCI standards, programs, responses, reports, and payments of committed funds.
• Utilizes quality reports and franchisee complaints to help develop solutions for quality issues with QA, R&D, and suppliers.  Works with suppliers to keep complaint levels within a normal range and be willing to have direct conversations if quality issues are not within an acceptable range.
• Have the tenacity to escalate conversations within a supplier organization to gain agreement or solutions.
• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with suppliers and the endorsed distributor to assure the highest level of service.

Inventory Management:

• Ensures inventory is at adequate levels across all distributors. Anticipates and works to prevent and eliminate slow moving and obsolete inventory, as well as inventory shortages in certain areas. When this occurs, gathers data from manufacturer and distributor inventory to determine inventory across distribution centers, which distribution centers are in most need, and from which to move inventory to others distribution centers, taking into account sales and promotional history, etc.
• Can identify and quickly evaluate multiple alternative suppliers that are potential manufactures for key items in areas of assigned responsibility.
• Can manage multiple LTOs and product tests within area of responsibility.  Maintains knowledge of inventory of unique raw ingredients, work in progress, and other materials that may cause risk to the supply chain.
• Knows and has utilized alternative distribution methods to make sure product will move through the supply chain effectively.

Maintaining Data and Assisting with Business Plan and Strategy Preparation:

• Maintains accurate prices within the Arrowstream platform, as well as vital product and supplier information within Arrowstream platform, for use by endorsed distributors and corporate staff.
• In preparation for longer term product launches, and with the aim of cost savings and efficiency, provides input to strategy created by the Director or the VP of Purchasing by advising on necessary product (raw material, tooling, etc.) ordering timeframes, taking into account anticipated manufacturer delays, technical aspects associated with freight and shipping, and risk management opportunities, etc.
• For the purposes of creating the USCI annual profit plan, responsible for estimating/forecasting the price and movement of cases for product area of responsibility. Forecasts for supply amounts of approximately $40-$60M in sales.
• Updates product cost-based commodity forecasts that are used by IDQ’s Finance Team to send Franchisees’ menu pricing recommendations.

Analyzing and Communicating Industry Information:

• Monitors, understands, analyzes and draws conclusions on market trends and data provided by economists, suppliers and other industry publications and sources.
• Researches and stays knowledgeable of industry information and of market trends for key commodities affecting product costs and work proactively to minimize negative impact on product pricing and availability.
• Communicates price changes and significant industry information to franchisees and corporate employees. 
• Can communicate new or potential risk management strategies or options in the industry.
• Continuously reviews new and alternative suppliers to keep up to date on changing suppliers to the industry

Special Projects and USCI Events Preparation:

• Assists with planning and coordination of supplier participation at the annual Supply Chain Summit and every other year DQ Connect.
• Sources product and alternative suppliers in support of Long term sales growth goals, R&D / Marketing departments as it relates to the execution of the marketing calendar / promotional activity, new product development, etc.
• Participates as a member of cross-functional teams representing the USCI department in sourcing product improvements, development, or alternatives, to deliver required elements for operations and/or cost savings.
• Assists QA, R&D, operations, and distributors to resolve quality and sevice complaints from franchisees and field staff.  Understands basic quality issues and can identify what caused the issue
•  Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education/Experience

• B.A. or B.S. Degree in Supply Chain, Economics or a related field.
• Must have a minimum of 5-8 years of relevant and increasingly responsible business experience, including a minimum of 5 years of purchasing experience. Depending upon area of responsibility, required purchasing experience should focus in one or several of the following: packaging, protein, produce, dairy, commodities, oils, sauces, bakery or confectionary.
• Experience in purchasing in the restaurant industry with utilization and implementation of basic commodity or product risk management strategies and raw material formula pricing
• Experience managing multiple product tests and LTOs across products managed.

Skills

• Strong knowledge and familiarity with the Restaurant Industry and alternative suppliers.
• Strong negotiating skills with experience utilizing basic risk management programs and alternative risk mitigation strategies
• Successful onboarding skills for new suppliers while also balancing discontinued suppliers and product lines.
• Creative thinker who can quickly develop innovative solutions across a wide variety of business units.
• Relationship building skills with the ability to create mutually beneficial relationships with both internal and external clients.
• Ability to execute agreed upon strategy to achieve business objectives and proactively anticipate future supply opportunities.
• Ability to work with minimal guidance, manage multiple priorities and take initiative even under unfamiliar circumstances.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Strong demonstrated ability to create presentations and present to groups of internal and external customers.  Knows when to escalate conversations to senior members of supplier community or internal team for resolution.
• Strong analytical skills. Ability to accurately forecast and plan the effects of product promotions (how and when), to ensure accurate supply orders and distribution.
• Advanced computer skills, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other reporting tools such as Power BI and ArrowStream.
• Strong ability to prioritize multiple projects and requests simultaneously within an intense, deadline-driven environment. Ability to work quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to travel for National Restaurant Association Meeting, supplier visits, Summit, IDQ Connect, industry shows, (average of 5-10% travel during the year)
• Effectively solves problems with others.  Involves others in matters that impact them.  Works toward cross-functional “win-win” solutions that are completed on time.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.  You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Benefits

Our benefit package supports the well-being of our employees and their families.  Our comprehensive benefit package includes, medical, dental, 401K match, paid time off (including volunteer time as well as parental leave) and so much more!  To learn more about our great benefit offerings, Click Here.

Work Environment

Most positions located out of our global headquarters in Bloomington, MN will work a hybrid work schedule where you will work 2 collaboration days a week.  Additional in office time may be required to support team/project needs.  Positions will be identified as “remote eligible” when consideration will be given to candidates outside of drivable distance to our Bloomington office.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for all who touch DQ.  We believe in and commit to fostering a community where employees bring their authentic selves to work; where we recruit, engage and retain employees, franchise owners and suppliers with diverse background and identities; and where everyone feels welcome engaging with our DQ brand.

IDQ is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. IDQ participates in the US E-Verify program.  You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.