Value Added Manager

About the Role

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Procurement,  the  Value Added Manager will work closely with all members of the Procurement & Food Safety team to ensure the ingredients utilized in the development of new seafood products (from seafood to spices to produce) are obtained in a manner that strictly adheres to our mission, vision, values, ingredient and nutritional standards and sourcing philosophy. 

As Value Added Manager, you will own the procurement and relationships with all ingredient suppliers and manufacturers to support the development of Wild Alaskan Company’s amazing seafood items.  Our ingredient portfolio is expected to double in the next year, significantly increasing the complexity of procurement and supplier relationships.  This requires prioritizing partners who can provide transparent supply chains, support local economies, and demonstrate sustainable fishing, growing, and logistics practices. 

The ideal candidate is nimble, organized, highly analytical, and can think quickly on their feet. Your execution will play an integral part in shaping the member experience at Wild Alaskan Company.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop ingredient programs that meet the following criteria:
  • Fully traceable supply chain from source to production to shipment to fulfillment centers
  • Verifiable ethical practices of suppliers, including, but not limited to, fair wages and safe working conditions.
  • Establish direct relationships with supply sources.
  • Regular auditing of supplier base.
• Based upon new concepts from the Product Development team, procure the following types of ingredients for bench samples and full production:  seafood, spices, oils, produce, grains, wheat, dairy, eggs, sauces, condiments and packaging. 
• Understand how the ingredients interact with various seafood species to support product formulation and food safety requirements..
• Experience with raw material sourcing with general product formulation guidelines, including nutritional and cost requirements, allergen management, sustainability considerations, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor inventory levels to ensure adequate supply at each fulfillment center. 
• Source value-add ready-to-cook (RTC) and ready-to-eat (RTE) categories.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and change management.
• Create projections for seafood and calculate ordering needs as well as forecast projected costs of new items.
• Understanding full product specifications, sourcing model, seasonality and product variations.
• Develop strategic direction for ensuring continuity of ingredient supply for WAC members.
• Work with FSQA to ensure sufficient documentation is current for suppliers and production facilities.
• Maintain accurate market insights and communicate fluctuations to team.
• Lead new ingredient onboarding for the organization. 
• Liaise between suppliers and WAC leadership on credit lines, accounts payable and accounts receivable.
• Coordinate with manufacturers to communicate future Wild Alaskan Company production needs and ensure timely completion.
• Work cross-functionally with the internal WAC team regarding product needs.  This includes interaction with Product Development, Finance, Data, Digital Product and Marketing teams.
• Travel, as needed, to current and prospective suppliers to provide product/process familiarization, resolution of problems, product development assistance and general business updates.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Skills and Experiences

• Bachelor's Degree or 5+ years of relevant experience in supply chain, purchasing, finance and sustainable food systems.
• Experience managing sustainability practices at scale and balancing cost with ethical sourcing.
• Experience vetting and onboarding co-manufacturers. 
• Proven track record in procurement with the following categories: seafood, spices, oils, produce, grains, wheat, dairy, eggs, sauces, condiments and packaging 
• Experience sourcing value-added RTE and RTC categories in addition to raw ingredients. 
• Experience managing finished food items to production. 
• Experience with General Product Formulation Guidelines.
• Passionate about sustainable, wild-caught seafood.
• Proficiency in Google Suite with emphasis on Excel/Google Sheets and WMS systems.
• Adaptable to new systems and processes (Asana, Looker, etc.).
• Ability to execute quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience working with distributed remote teams.

Nice to Haves 

• Masters degree is a plus.
• A background in sustainability.
• Direct experience working in the Alaska seafood industry.
• A track record in eCommerce, supply chain operations, financial modeling and/or Food Safety Quality Assurance (FSQA).
• Proficiency in languages other than English.

*If you have a comparable depth of professional experience, believe your skills are directly transferable, and are passionate about our mission, please apply!

The starting salary range for this position is $90,000 - $120,000, commensurate with skills and experience. Wild Alaskan’s benefits package includes health, vision, and dental insurance, 401k, PTO, safe/sick time, vacation, parental leave and more, as well as a delicious box of free fish every month.