GUNNAR KNUTSEN
Asheboro,NC
Summary
Procurement and operations lead with a background in purchasing workflows, vendor management, and inventory governance across corporate client sites. Coordinates ERP data integrity, budget adherence, and delivery schedules while working with cross-functional teams to reduce order errors, control waste, and keep replenishment aligned with program and margin goals.
Overview
1
1
Certification
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Procurement & Operations Lead
Sodexo
08.2022 - Current
- Direct end-to-end procurement and replenishment workflows across flagship corporate client sites, maintaining full compliance with program budgets and delivery windows.
- Negotiated pricing structures, volume terms, and delivery schedules across multi-site vendor networks, enhancing material efficiency and resource allocation.
- Collaborate closely with site directors and executive stakeholders to translate program objectives into tailored product solutions while balancing design vision, margins, and logistics.
- Served as primary cross-functional liaison among operations, logistics, and corporate teams, ensuring data integrity across enterprise ordering and inventory ERP systems.
- Enforced quality control protocols, verified supplier sample specifications against program standards, and resolved supply chain lead-time disruptions in real time.
- Managed accurate data entry for high-volume purchasing records, eliminating order discrepancies.
- Client Sites: Oracle & BASF
Sourcing, Catering & Operations Manager
Sodexo
08.2018 - 08.2022
- Sourced specialty products and materials across 3 corporate campuses, enhancing quality and presentation for high-visibility client events.
- Governed a $35,000 recurring site inventory budget, conducting cost-variance analysis, lifecycle tracking, and rigorous replenishment governance.
- Partnered cross-functionally with event producers, facilities managers, and technical crews to establish end-to-end production schedules and delivery milestones.
- Coordinated supplier reviews, pricing requests, and quality inspections to ensure compliance with account standards and timely delivery.
- Spearheaded updates to ordering system, training team on inventory data integrity and operational controls to streamline documentation processes.
- Client Site: GlaxoSmithKline
Operations & Inventory Supervisor
Sodexo
05.2015 - 08.2018
- Supervised daily inventory ordering, validation, and vendor receiving to ensure compliance with service-level agreements and meeting operational deadlines.
- Maintained purchasing discipline within departmental budgets, monitoring turnover metrics to reduce supply variances.
- Trained and coached 30+ team members on standard operating procedures and quality control protocols to enhance operational consistency.
- Client Site: GlaxoSmithKline
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Raleigh
General Studies (English, Mathematics & Social Sciences)
Piedmont Community College
Skills
- Vendor management
- Inventory governance
- Cost analysis
- Procurement systems
- Stakeholder management
- Inventory ERPs
Certification
ServSafe Manager | OSHA-10 Certified
Timeline
Procurement & Operations Lead
Sodexo
08.2022 - Current
Sourcing, Catering & Operations Manager
Sodexo
08.2018 - 08.2022
Operations & Inventory Supervisor
Sodexo
05.2015 - 08.2018
Associate of Applied Science - Culinary Arts
The Art Institute of Raleigh
General Studies (English, Mathematics & Social Sciences)
Piedmont Community College