Job Title: Director of Purchasing
Location: Home Office
Department: Operations
Reports To: President
ABOUT KENT HOSPITALITY GROUP
Kent Hospitality Group (KHG) is a dynamic and innovative hospitality company founded by visionary Chef Jamal “James” Kent and entrepreneur-led private equity platform SC Holdings. KHG comprises Michelin Star restaurants, private members clubs, and world class venues. We are dedicated to delivering fine dining, unmatched hospitality, and first-rate experiences across North America. We are seeking creative go-getters to join our team to help elevate our brand.
JOB SUMMARY
The director of purchasing is a strategic and operational leadership role within the Kent Hospitality Group, overseeing procurement across multiple hospitality locations in New York City. This position ensures cost-effective, timely, and quality-driven purchasing practices, while refining a centralized purchase order system for all locations to streamline operations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Procurement Management
- Develop and implement comprehensive purchasing strategies that align with the company’s goals and budgets.
- Build and maintain relationships with suppliers, negotiating contracts and securing favorable terms.
- Identify and vet new vendors, ensuring alignment with company quality standards.
- Evaluate vendor performance regularly and address any issues.
- Lead the refinement of a centralized purchase order system to ensure transparency and efficiency across all locations.
- Establish procedures for order requisition, tracking, and fulfillment.
- Train the F&B team on purchasing operations, ensuring they understand best practices and system usage.
- Oversee the end-to-end purchasing process, from vendor selection to price negotiation and order fulfillment.
Cost Control & Budget Management
- Monitor and manage budgets for procurement, identifying opportunities to reduce costs without compromising quality.
- Analyze market trends to forecast procurement needs and adjust purchasing strategies accordingly.
- Collaborate with location managers to maintain optimal inventory levels and minimize waste.
- Develop standardized inventory tracking systems across all sites.
- Have an in-depth knowledge of the annual budgets for each location.
- Monitor and analyze KPIs, including sales, labor costs, food costs, and other performance metrics.
- Collaborate with the F&B team to establish ongoing reporting mechanisms for tracking purchasing and inventory performance.
- Identify and address areas of financial underperformance, in collaboration with the Director of Operations and necessary KHG Departments, to implement corrective action plans.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Work closely with chefs, sous chefs, general managers, and managers to understand location-specific needs.
- Address the challenges of launching operations in new spaces with new teams, implementing solutions that drive efficiency.
- Lead pre-opening procurement efforts for F&B, including vendor onboarding, R365 setup, and the creation of order guides.
Qualifications:
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement or purchasing, preferably in the hospitality industry.
- Proven track record of developing and implementing purchase order systems.
- Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
- Proficiency in procurement software and inventory management tools.
- Knowledge of NYC hospitality industry standards and vendor networks is a plus.
- Excellent team-building skills, with the ability to train and motivate staff to adopt best practices and new systems.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills to liaise effectively with vendors, staff, and management.
- Ability to always maintain a clean and professional appearance; a devotion to Jordan brand sneakers are a plus.
- Ability to stand for extended periods of time, lift, push, items, equipment, and packages of up to 25lbs.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and evenings if necessary.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- A supportive work environment focused on innovation and excellence
- Employee discounts across our hospitality group
