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 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.

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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

7+ 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, b…