About You

The Vice President, Supply Chain will provide supply chain leadership that results in securing the highest quality ingredients and best cost of goods while ensuring those goods are distributed in the most efficient manner so that both the business operations and the restaurant guest have an excellent experience. The VP will oversee sourcing, procurement, distribution and quality assurance. The role will promote food safety and quality awareness among our vendors, distribution centers, and restaurants to serve the best possible food to our guests, spearheading the company’s food safety programs and regulatory compliance requirements. The role will interact with all internal and external guests and vendors to ensure optimal working relationships and service. The VP will work cross functionally in support of marketing, training, culinary, operations and other areas to ensure optimal results. Key additional duties include (1) looking for new and/or innovative ways to reduce costs or minimize cost increases and (2) working closely with R&D to develop new products and be primarily responsible for product reformulations/optimizations.

About Noodles

At Noodles & Company, our mission is to always nourish and inspire every team member, guest and community we serve. We accomplish this by living our values of We Care, We Show Pride, We are Passionate, and We Love Life! We provide our team members with opportunities to learn culinary skills working with fresh food and the art of personal connection with our guests. Come join our amazing team, make new friends, develop your career and have fun!

We are proud to be recognized on Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity 2021 and Forbes’ Best Employers for Women 2021 lists and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where Noodlers can bring their full self to work.

Benefits
Careers at Noodles are served with a side of:

• Pay range: $183,000 - $230,000
• Eligible for annual performance bonus
• Annual RSU (Restricted Stock Unit) grant
• Flexible paid time off
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) and stock purchase discounts
• Paid maternity and paternity leaves, adoption and surrogacy benefits
• Discounts through our gift card program
• Scholarship opportunities
• Wellness Stipend (Noodles’ Balance Bucks)
• Learn more about our benefits: noodles.com/careers/perks/

Your Day in the Life

• Oversee and lead the overall supply chain and logistics operations to enable sustainable growth and achieve financial objectives through effective inventory management, increased efficiencies, and process improvements.
• Develop supply chain, strategic sourcing and sales and operations planning solutions that support brand menu, promotion, operations and growth objectives.
• Enhance supply chain capabilities in procurement, sourcing, demand planning, warehousing, distribution, logistics, replenishment, order management, inventory management.
• Establish and maintain key performance indicators for suppliers that are in alignment with company goals and strategies and implement plans to improve supplier performance through KPIs and SLAs.
• Analyze supply market conditions and develop strategic sourcing initiatives that mitigate risk and decrease volatility, including tactics to mitigate inflationary pressures.
• Monitor all major food/paper/plastic/energy commodities, follow markets and economic trends to determine best time to contract.
• Formalize methodology for commodity based contracts to ensure achievement of plan and risk mitigation.
• Direct Quality Assurance efforts that ensure safety of food supply and ensure compliance with the company’s specifications and food safety procedures.
• Supports development of SC team including direct report reviews and career development.
• Ensures Supply Chain and Quality Assurance teams work cohesively with other departments.
• Maintains highest level of integrity.
• Ensures that synergies are realized by having the team clearly define, document, and implement all critical SC processes
• Drive continuous improvement of systems, processes and people through effective assessment of capabilities and development/implementation of strategies.
• Lead and direct total SC cost modeling. “Know the numbers”.
• Ensure vendor adherence to Noodles & Company product specifications.
• Facilitate vendor R & D sessions in line with brand direction and in support of culinary priorities.
• Work with financial planning and analysis group to maintain usage and forecasting information; provide comprehensive business review data as required.
• Develop and institutionalize standard sourcing, procurement and requisitioning processes.
• Develop and manage a formal sales and operations planning process (S&OP), including demand planning in partnership with the FP&A team.
• Develop and adhere to annual budgets/quarterly forecasts for all direct and indirect spend as well as G&A for the department.

What You Bring to the Team

• Organized, solution-oriented, results-driven, detail-oriented, flexible and able to prioritize to meet objectives and deadlines.
• Multi-tasking ability between analytical duties and guest service/relationship building.
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication that builds solid, professional internal and external relationships.
• Focused on supporting field operations with an internal customer service mindset
• Computer proficiency, including email, Internet and MS Office products.
• Ability to work independently and analyze business needs.
• Must be able to maintain confidential and proprietary information.
• Travel up to 10% required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business or Supply Chain Management, or equivalent experience. MBA a plus.
• 10 years of supply chain experience with 5 years in a leadership capacity.
• Significant knowledge of food supply markets (proteins, commodities, dairy, etc.).
• Extensive experience with food manufacturers and a working knowledge of food manufacturing and product development.
• Proven negotiation skills.
• Significant knowledge of Food Safety and Quality Assurance.
• Insight and understanding of food service distribution business model.

Noodles is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to be an inclusive and diverse team that is representative of the communities and guests we serve.

noodles.com/careers