Senior Director, Food & Nutrition Program

Senior Director, Food & Nutrition ProgramEqualis Group is one of the fastest growing public-sector cooperative purchasing organizations. We thrive in a culture where employees are engaged and empowered to contribute directly to the success of the Company. Summary:Equalis Group is seeking a Senior Director, Food & Nutrition Program, to lead and expand our food and nutrition program through distribution contracting, lead agency management, and market expansion. This individual will serve as the primary procurement and program leader for distribution contracts and lead agency relationships within our food & nutrition portfolio. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of food and nutrition procurement, foodservice distribution, K-12 or public-sector cooperative purchasing. Location:The preferred location for this position is office-based at our headquarters in Plano, Texas. This may be flexible dependent upon qualified candidates and all interested candidates are encouraged to apply. Why Join Equalis Group:This is an opportunity to shape and scale a growing national food and nutrition program, build strategic partnerships, and expand member value. The Senior Director will play a key role in defining program strategy, strengthening supplier and lead agency relationships, and helping drive long-term growth for an important category within Equalis Group. Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:Lead Agency Management & Procurement:Serve as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for lead agency partners, including school districts, school food cooperatives, and other public-sector entities.Manage the end-to-end solicitation and contracting process on behalf of lead agencies, including RFP development, scope of work creation, evaluation criteria, and contract execution.Identify, pursue, and onboard new lead agency partnerships to expand the reach and impact of the food and nutrition program. Distribution Contracting:Lead the procurement, negotiation, and management of distribution contracts that support the food and nutrition program portfolio.Develop and maintain strategic relationships with foodservice distributors to ensure competitive pricing, service quality, and broad geographic coverage for Equalis Group members. Market Expansion & Program Growth:Champion the expansion of the food and nutrition program into new market segments, including higher education, public-sector and correctional facilities, and the private sector.Collaborate with sales and business development colleagues to identify and secure new customer opportunities and participate directly in sales efforts as needed. Program Leadership & Team Development:Contribute to the overall strategy and direction of the food and nutrition program in coordination with the broader procurement and leadership teams.Work collaboratively with the team member(s) responsible for manufacturer agreements to ensure alignment across the food portfolio.Identify and drive execution on value-added services, analytics, and process improvements that strengthen the program. Job Qualifications, Experience and Requirements5+ years of experience in food procurement, foodservice distribution, cooperative purchasing, GPO management, or a closely related field.Understanding of K–12 food and nutrition procurement processes and regulations; experience with school food cooperatives or lead agency procurement models strongly preferred.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and serve as a credible point of contact for customers, lead agencies, and industry partners.Energetic and enthusiastic; comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and passionate about building lasting relationships.Self-motivated, results oriented, with the ability to work independently and in a remote environment.Strong project management and organizational skills.BA/BS degree preferred.Experience with contract negotiation and legal document review preferred.Occasional travel of 10–25% may be required. Compensation & BenefitsBase salary commensurate with relevant experiencePerformance-based incentive planMedical, Dental, and Vision insurance benefitsPersonal Time Off (PTO) policy for vacation and sick days401K retirement plan with defined Company match Equalis Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.