Procurement Category Manager

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing and RFP/I activities for ingredients, packaging, and plant supplies
• Define sourcing and hedging strategies that balance fixed pricing, relating meat cost to the price of underlying markets, formula-based pricing, forward contracts, financial futures, and insurance
• Create purchase orders in response to purchase requisitions, production needs, contract coverage, and sourcing decisions
• Reconcile and resolve purchase order and invoice discrepancies with suppliers and internal stakeholders
• Develop, track, and report on KPIs; analyze spend, inventory, supplier, and cost data to drive category decisions
• Track and analyze supplier performance, market options, and service levels and provide change recommendations
• Track PO fulfillment including verification of quantities, prices, contract terms, and on-time deliveries
• Analyze inventory levels, coordinate with production and sales on adequate supplies, and verify requirements for proper inventory turns in support of a well-managed inventory system
• Determine safety stocks for assigned items based upon product mix, sales forecast, supplier lead times, market conditions, and seasonality
• Generate reports and sort and analyze inventory levels in conjunction with forecasted demand, current orders, contract positions, supplier capacity, and customer needs; notify Production and Sales of foreseeable shortfalls
• Work with R&D and Sales Teams for new product commercialization
• Conduct department audits to ensure accuracy of information between physical and electronic inventory levels; alerting appropriate individuals of issues
• Serve as a liaison between suppliers and Production in the resolution of issues and the processing of quality claims using Root Cause Failure Analysis and Corrective Actions
• Absorb product considered out of spec and compile supplier performance data to support corrective action
• Prepare standard costs for assigned items, participate in month-end and accounting activities related to product values and provide analysis of and explanation for variances to standard
• Forecast and adhere to Cost of Goods Sold budgets; provide category analytics to identify risks, savings, and cost avoidance opportunities
• Validate supplier price changes against market fundamentals
• Lead activities necessary to establish vendors, items, cross-references, pricing, and sourcing data in the ERP system

Requirements

• 7+ years purchasing, procurement, sourcing, or category management experience
• Master's degree in business, supply chain, finance, analytics, or related field required
• Sourcing and supplier negotiation experience with ingredients, packaging, supplies, or other manufacturing inputs
• Experience in data reporting - ability to apply mathematical concepts, analytics, cost models, and supplier data
• Advanced Microsoft Office, Excel, spreadsheet, and large data set skills
• Strong communication, influence, and prioritization skills
• Strong organizational and analytical skills; high attention to detail
• ERP, inventory management, purchasing controls, and cost accounting knowledge

Physical Requirements

• Frequently operates a computer, phone, ERP systems, and other standard office equipment while performing purchasing, inventory, forecasting, and reporting activities
• Must be able to remain stationary for extended periods while working at a computer workstation and analyzing data, reports, and documentation
• Requires frequent communication and coordination with suppliers, production, warehouse personnel, quality, accounting, and other internal departments across multiple company locations
• Occasionally moves throughout office, warehouse, and manufacturing environments to support inventory, receiving, quality, and operational needs
• Occasional travel to company facilities, warehouse locations, and vendors may be required
• May occasionally lift or move standard office materials up to 15 pounds
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to review, analyze, and interpret data, spreadsheets, reports, and related documentation
• May be exposed to varying temperatures within warehouse and manufacturing environments
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position

Benefits

• Medical, vision, dental
• Discretionary bonus up to 15% (50% personal performance based & 50% company performance)
• 401(k) with matching up to a max of 4%
• 120 hours PTO in the 1st 12 months