About the role
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.
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, but not dependent on perfect alignment to move forward
- Clear communicator who can work across functions and with external partners
- Grounded, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented
Additional Requirements
- Ability to travel up to 30% as needed
What Success Looks Like
- You’ve built a sourcing network that can support aggressive growth across protein and frozen categories
- You’re ahead of market shifts and proactively managing risk, not reacting to it
- Suppliers view Kinder’s as a strong, credible partner
- New products launch smoothly because sourcing is aligned early and effectively
Skills & Tags
Aplyr's read
Kinder's blends tradition with innovation, offering high-quality barbecue products while expanding through strategic roles in R&D, sourcing, and sales finance.
What's promising
- •Family-owned legacy ensures a strong commitment to quality and tradition.
- •Recent hires indicate a focus on expanding research and development capabilities.
- •Strategic roles in sales finance suggest growth and market expansion plans.
What to watch
- •Family-owned structure may limit rapid decision-making processes.
- •Niche focus on barbecue products could restrict market diversification.
- •Limited public information about company culture and employee satisfaction.
Why Kinder's
- •Specializes in gourmet barbecue products, setting it apart in the food industry.
- •Strong emphasis on high-quality meats and proprietary seasoning blends.
- •Recent strategic hires in protein sourcing highlight a commitment to product excellence.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Kinder's
Kinder's is a family-owned company known for its high-quality meats and barbecue products, offering a range of gourmet sauces and seasonings.
