JOB SUMMARYThe Director of Purchasing is responsible for leading all procurement, purchasing, receiving, inventory, vendor management, and supply chain activities for Catalina Island Company's operations on Catalina Island as well as management of the building supply retail outlet. Reporting to the Corporate Controller, this role ensures that hotel, food and beverage, retail for building materials, facilities, activities, operational departments receive the goods, supplies, equipment, and services needed to deliver exceptional guest experience while maintaining cost control, quality standards, internal controls, and reliable island logistics. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on purchasing leader with hospitality experience, strong supplier relationships, excellent negotiation skills, and the ability to manage transportation, lead-time, and inventory challenges.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES- Develop, implement, and manage purchasing policies, procedures, systems, and internal controls for operations.
- Oversee procurement of food, beverage, operating supplies, equipment, linens, uniforms, retail goods, building supplies and materials, maintenance materials, FF&E, OS&E, and contracted services.
- Lead sourcing, bidding, vendor selection, contract negotiation, purchase order approval, and supplier performance management.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with mainland and local vendors, distributors, transportation providers, freight handlers, and service partners.
- Coordinate purchasing and logistics around ferry, barge, marine freight, weather, seasonal demand, limited storage capacity, and longer-than-standard lead times.
- Partner with hotel operations, food and beverage, culinary, housekeeping, engineering, retail, finance, and leadership teams to forecast demand and maintain appropriate par levels.
- Ensure receiving procedures verify product quality, quantity, temperature, weight, condition, and documentation before goods are accepted.
- Maintain accurate inventory controls, including cycle counts, physical inventories, stock rotation, expiration dating, and shrinkage prevention.
- Monitor pricing, market trends, availability, freight costs, and supplier reliability to identify cost-saving and service-improvement opportunities.
- Support annual budgeting, capital planning, expense forecasting, invoice review, accruals, and purchasing-related financial reporting.
- Ensure compliance with company standards, accounting procedures, food safety requirements, sanitation guidelines, alcohol purchasing rules, environmental practices, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Manage, train, coach, and evaluate purchasing, receiving, warehouse, and storeroom team members.
- Respond quickly to operational shortages, emergency purchasing needs, supply disruptions, and island-specific logistical challenges.
- Maintain organized records for bids, contracts, certificates of insurance, vendor files, purchase orders, invoices, credits, rebates, and claims.
OPERATION FOCUSThis position requires careful planning and proactive communication. The operations depend on limited transportation windows, variable weather conditions, constrained storage space, and the need to balance guest service standards with freight cost, product availability, and delivery timing. The Director of Purchasing must anticipate supply needs, plan around seasonal volume changes, and maintain contingency plans for high-priority goods and critical operating supplies.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Hospitality Management, Finance, Accounting, or related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive purchasing, procurement, supply chain, inventory, or logistics experience, preferably in multi-outlet hospitality operations.
- Minimum of 3 years of leadership experience managing purchasing, receiving, warehouse, storeroom, or procurement teams.
- Experience with purchasing systems, inventory systems, accounting systems, and Microsoft Office; experience with BirchStreet or similar hospitality procurement platforms preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate contracts, manage vendor performance, control costs, and maintain quality standards.
- Strong understanding of internal controls, purchase order workflows, invoice processing, inventory management, and receiving procedures.
- Excellent communication, organization, analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment with changing priorities and time-sensitive operational needs.
- Availability to work flexible hours as needed for deliveries, urgent purchasing needs, seasonal business levels, and island transportation schedules.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS- Experience supporting full-service, resort, destination, or remote-location hospitality operations.
- Knowledge of Southern California vendor markets, marine freight, island logistics, perishables transportation, and seasonal resort demand planning.
- Experience supporting multiple operating departments, restaurants, retail outlets, maintenance teams, lodging operations, and guest-facing amenities.
- Familiarity with sustainability practices, waste reduction, local sourcing, and environmentally responsible purchasing.
CORE COMPETENCIES- Strategic sourcing and cost control
- Vendor relationship management
- Leadership and team development
- Hospitality operations support
- Inventory accuracy and internal controls
- Island logistics and contingency planning
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Ethical decision-making and accountability
WORK ENVIRONMENT/ PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS - Ability to work in office, warehouse, receiving, storeroom, dock, freight, kitchen, and operational environments.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and inspect deliveries and storage areas as needed.
- Ability to occasionally lift, move, or assist with items in accordance with company safety guidelines.
- Ability to travel between mainland and island locations as business needs require.
PAY TRANSPARENCYThe salary range for this position is $105,000 to $125,000 annually, based on experience, qualifications, and business needs. Catalina Island Company offers a competitive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, vision, paid time off, 401K, employee discounts, annual incentive program and other benefits based on eligibility.
SCHEDULEThis position requires a flexible schedule, with rotating weekday and weekend shifts, including day, night, and holiday hours.
LIFE ON CATALINA ISLAND- A fast paced, exciting work environment with upward mobility and growth opportunities.
- Meet and engage with people from all over the country and world!
COMPANY PERKS- Employee discounts and perks - restaurant, hotels and activities.
- Beautiful island views and a summer of adventure!
