Vice President Supply Chain

Role Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our leadership team as Vice President of Supply Chain ensuring that our nutrient supply and distribution capabilities are operating at the highest level, with customers receiving the highest quality at the best price and cost. The Vice President of Supply Chain will act as an interface between vendors, sales, manufacturing, finance, and the technical team to plan, process, and deliver our feed products in the most optimum manner.

We seek an experienced leader who is focused on developing high performance teams, able to lead cultural and business change and hold people accountable. With the keen desire to add value in the agricultural industry and make Westway Feed Products ‘2030 Strategy’ come to life.

Westway Feed Products is North America’s largest manufacturer of liquid supplements for livestock. Additionally, we produce feed mill products, dried molasses and industrial products. The core concept of Westway’s business is to utilize co-products from other industries and convert them into safe, high-quality, cost effective, livestock feed supplements. While Westway’s primary ingredient for many of our products is molasses, we also incorporate other co-products. The concept of utilizing these co-products is the foundation of our sustainability platform. Today, Westway operates 22 production facilities across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our geographic reach allows for products to be developed according to environmental and production system variations across the country.

Westway has achieved Great Place to Work certification for 2023-2024.

We are part of ED&F Man Commodities, a world leading trader of agricultural products including coffee, sugar, molasses and animal feed.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS THE 5TH JANUARY 2025, AFTER WHICH SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.

STRICTLY NO AGENCY RECRUITERS PLEASE.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Planning:

Develop supply chain strategies to enhance efficiency, improve quality, increase gross margin, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction.

Develop and utilize data analytics to evaluate past performance, identify trends, and forecast inventory requirements.

Creating and implementing KPIs to measure supply chain performance.

Risk Management:

Assessing risks related to supply chain disruptions, such as ingredient shortages or transportation delays.

Implementing contingency plans to mitigate risks and maintain continuity.

Designing and implementing price risk plans and hedging strategies.

Ingredient Formulations:

Collaborating with product development teams to create and optimize ingredient formulations for animal nutrition supplements.

Ensuring that ingredient sourcing aligns with quality standards, regulatory requirements, and cost-effectiveness.

Learn and become proficient in necessary software and procedures that are required to formulate, manufacture and price products in the Westway system.

Develop and implement new processes that will increase our gross margin or lower our cost of goods sold.

Become fully knowledgeable of liquid ingredients, their nutritional values, the manufacturing specifications necessary to formulate and blend liquid ingredients to make quality liquid feed products.

Purchasing:

Developing and implementing procurement strategies to acquire raw materials, ingredients, and packaging materials.

Negotiating contracts with suppliers to obtain optimal pricing and terms.

Evaluating supplier performance and maintaining strong vendor relationships while developing new supplier relationships.

Research and investigate new supplier relationships and sources of ingredients and/or nutrients.

Logistics:

Managing the logistics and distribution of finished goods and incoming ingredients, including transportation, and outside storage.

Optimizing supply chain processes to minimize lead times, reduce costs, and improve overall efficiency.

Coordinating with production, sales, and finance departments to ensure seamless flow of goods.

Negotiating transportation contracts and logistics contract management.

Continuous Improvement:

Identifying opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, and quality enhancement.

Staying informed about industry trends, regulations, and best practices.

Professional & People Development:

• Develop a high performance, best in class supply chain team. Holding individuals accountable to their responsibilities and the impacts they have on the organization.
• Be involved in local and state feed/supply chain organizations. Representing Westway at local, state, prominent associations and conferences throughout the animal feed industry.
• Actively participate in professional and personal training locally and corporately to enhance professional and personal growth for yourself and your team.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum 7 years’ supply chain experience encompassing; either procurement, logistics, risk management, or formulations management.
• We are open to industry backgrounds, however do require a genuine interest in the agricultural sector and the agri-soft commodity trading industry, combined with the knowledge and aptitude to navigate and mitigate pricing risks in our industry and supply chain.
• Experience leading sizeable teams through significant business and culture change.
• Can organize a supply chain team, determine talent needs and adjust people based on performance.
• Knowledge of feed, animal and supply chain industry and market trends.
• Ability to research and analyze market, industry, customers and to apply that information to make decisions about ingredients, formulas, and/or logistics.
• Minimum of Bachelor of Science, Agriculture, Animal Nutrition or Animal Science preferred (or a related field).
• Ability to lead and influence others, and develop individuals based on their desired development plans.
• Ability to live and model Westway’s Values and help drive and advance ‘Westway 2030 strategy’ and our culture.
• Ability to incorporate favorable terms for the company into negotiations.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret formulations, ingredient contracts, and/or logistics contracts.
• Ability to effectively present information, communicate with, and respond to questions and complaints from co-workers, management, and customers.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.
• High motivation level with the ability to perform work with considerable independence under the general direction of supervisor. Ability to exercise judgment and make decisions independently.

As an ever-friendly reminder: Researchers have found that men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they check every box. If you are interested, but don't feel like you meet every single point on the job description, please still apply

Our Offer

We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.

Our Westway Values

Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork, Passion for Service, Business insight

Westway’s values guide our pursuit of providing a safe and rewarding environment for our employees while helping our customers to thrive.

Our Commitment

We share the commitment of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and are focussed on actively building and developing diverse teams. All qualified applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment (identity, gender expression), genetic information or any characteristic protected by local law.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

To apply you must have the right to work for the provided location.