Senior Purchasing Manager, Outside Contract Manufacturing (OCM)

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end procurement process for finished goods and materials sourced from Outside Contract Manufacturers.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that support business growth, supply continuity, product quality, capacity requirements, and cost objectives.
• Evaluate supplier quotations and service proposals and negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, capacity commitments, and other commercial terms.
• Negotiate and support the execution of supplier agreements, statements of work, pricing agreements, and other purchasing documentation.
• Issue and manage purchase orders in accordance with approved demand plans, production schedules, contractual requirements, and inventory targets.
• Ensure Thorne-supplied materials required by contract manufacturers are purchased, delivered, and available in alignment with production needs.
• Identify cost-reduction, cost-avoidance, and value-improvement opportunities without compromising quality, service, or supply continuity.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with contract manufacturers and key suppliers to support performance, capacity, quality, innovation, and long-term partnership objectives.
• Maintain awareness of contract manufacturer capacity and proactively address potential supply constraints.
• Partner with Research and Development, Innovation, Quality, Planning, and Operations teams to support sourcing activities for new products, reformulations, and product changes.
• Work closely with Planning and the Outside Contract Manufacturing Manager to monitor production schedules, material availability, and supplier on-time delivery.
• Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support customer demand and production schedules while minimizing excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory.
• Review purchasing, inventory, supplier, and demand reports to identify risks, trends, and required actions.
• Resolve purchasing issues involving goods, services, materials, invoices, delivery, quality, pricing, or specifications in partnership with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Ensure purchasing data, supplier information, pricing, lead times, and purchase-order records are accurate and current within the Enterprise Resource Planning system.
• Communicate supply risks, supplier issues, cost impacts, and recommended solutions clearly to business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Six or more years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, contract manufacturing, or a related field.
• Experience managing suppliers or contract manufacturers in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience working within a Material Requirements Planning or Enterprise Resource Planning environment required.
• Experience in dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, medical devices, or another regulated manufacturing industry preferred.
• Experience negotiating commercial terms, supplier agreements, pricing, lead times, and capacity commitments.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring, or training purchasing professionals preferred.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of procurement fundamentals, strategic sourcing, supplier management, purchase-order administration, inventory planning, and contract manufacturing.
• Knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices, supplier quality requirements, and procurement controls within a regulated environment.
• Ability to evaluate supplier quotations, cost models, lead times, payment terms, service levels, and total cost of ownership.
• Proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning and Material Requirements Planning systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to interpret purchasing, inventory, supplier-performance, financial, production, and demand-planning reports.
• Familiarity with supplier scorecards, performance metrics, risk assessments, corrective actions, and audit processes.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, usage, inventory, forecasts, and cost variances.

Skills

• Strong negotiation, supplier-management, and relationship-building skills.
• Sound judgment with the ability to balance cost, quality, service, risk, and supply continuity.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to translate data into practical recommendations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, supplier relationships, deadlines, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with suppliers, senior leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to identify risks, raise concerns promptly, and develop pragmatic solutions.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accurate purchasing records and reliable execution.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned objectives, and deliver results with limited oversight.
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build alignment and influence without relying solely on authority.
• Ability to coach, train, and support the development of less-experienced purchasing professionals.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, customer service, and operational excellence.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for employees
• Company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance
• Company-paid life insurance
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Monthly allowance of Thorne supplements
• Paid time off, volunteer time off and holiday leave
• Training, professional development, and career growth opportunities

Pay

• $120,000 - $125,000 / year

Schedule

• Remote