Produce Director/Ontario Food Terminal Buyer

Company: Produce Express

Position: Produce Director / Ontario Food Terminal Buyer

Location: Ontario Food Terminal + Hybrid

Hours: Early morning schedule; terminal days begin 4:00 AM to 5:00 AM, typically done by noon

Reports to: Owner/Founder

Compensation: Competitive, commensurate with experience

Position Type: Newly created role

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About Produce Express

Produce Express is a trusted supplier of fresh, high-quality food to wholesale and retail customers throughout Southwestern Ontario. Known for their commitment to quality, accuracy, and exceptional customer service, they operate with a strong set of core values: People, Passion, Positivity, Professionalism, and Punctuality.

Their culture is centred on continuously improving how they work, how they support one another, and how they scale, without losing the love and care that makes the team special.

About the Role

Produce Express is growing, and the produce buying function at the Ontario Food Terminal needs a new leader. The founder is ready to step back and hand this to the right person.

This is a high-impact, high-autonomy role for a seasoned produce professional. You will own the produce category end-to-end, managing buying and pricing, keeping your pulse on the market, and leading a team of three.

You are direct, decisive, and commercially sharp. You build relationships quickly, negotiate hard, and lead your team with care and genuine investment in their growth.

If you need consensus before pulling the trigger, this is not the right fit. If decisive ownership of a fast-moving category is where you do your best work, keep reading.

Key Responsibilities

• Daily Produce Buying (OFT) : Walk the Ontario Food Terminal daily, build your buying list based on forecasted volumes and market conditions, execute spot buys and pre-bookings, and fill inventory as needed.
• Direct Sourcing (FOB): Purchase produce directly from local farmers and regional growers, committing to orders over the phone based on market knowledge, timing, and trusted supplier relationships.
• Market Intelligence: Track seasonality, regional supply shifts, weather events, and global disruptions to stay ahead of pricing and demand.
• Category Management and Pricing: Own pricing and costing across all produce categories, updating internal systems and portals as markets move.
• Vendor Management & Negotiation: Build and own relationships with terminal vendors, growers, and regional suppliers. Negotiate pricing, terms, and volumes without compromising quality or integrity.
• Sales Partnership: Work closely with the sales team to manage weekly produce specials and update platform pricing accordingly. Ensure appropriate stock.
• Inventory Management: Balance stock levels across all produce categories, minimizing shrink while maximizing freshness.
• Quality Control: Ensure all incoming produce meets quality and grade standards. When product arrives off-spec, you act fast, find the backup, and keep the operation moving.
• Team Leadership: Oversee and mentor a team of three. Lead with love, care, and genuine investment in their growth.

Year One - What Success Looks Like

• Fully assume the founder's produce buying responsibilities, operating independently across all categories.
• Direct reports are actively developed with clear ownership of their respective categories.
• Shrinkage is minimal, and fill rates are strong.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of produce buying experience at the Ontario Food Terminal (preferred) or wholesale/distribution environment.
• Deep knowledge of produce seasonality, regional origins, quality grading, and commodity market dynamics.
• Skilled negotiator with strong communication and emotional intelligence
• Analytically minded and systems savvy - comfortable with data entry, pricing updates, Excel, and ERP/portal tools as part of the daily routine (paperless environment)
• Proven ability to lead and develop buyers without micromanaging.

Compensation

• Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience
• Health Spending Account
• Employee Discount: 40% off groceries from Produce Express
• Vacation: Open to discussion based on experience and expectations