Sourcing Category Manager

About the role

We are seeking a highly strategic and results-oriented Sourcing Category Manager to lead a portfolio of direct and/or indirect spend categories. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that deliver business value through cost competitiveness, supply assurance, innovation, sustainability, supplier performance, and risk management. The successful candidate will operate as the business owner of their category, partnering closely with Operations, Planning, Finance, Quality, R&D, and Commercial teams to build long-term strategies and drive measurable enterprise impact.

This position requires a leader who can balance strategic thinking with disciplined execution while serving as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders and strategic suppliers. The role aligns with a strategic sourcing model focused on developing category managers who think like general managers of their categories rather than buyers of their categories.

This role offers a flexible hybrid work schedule (Monday-Friday) located at our Home Office in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The hybrid work schedule is 3 days/week onsite at Home Office and 2 days/week from home.

About our Green Bay, WI Home Office

You’ll find lots to love in our beautiful home office in downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin. Our jeans-friendly environment has indoor and outdoor collaboration spaces, state-of-the-art R&D and sensory labs, culinary kitchens, a pilot plant, innovation center and more. Take advantage of outdoor workspaces. Sample and provide feedback on new products from our R&D team. Enjoy free coffee, soda and popcorn. Take a short walk to restaurants, breweries, the YMCA and a weekly farmer’s market on the scenic Fox River. You can even see Lambeau Field from our top floor.

Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Market Intelligence
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive 3–5 year category strategies.
  • Analyze market trends, industry dynamics, supplier capabilities, and competitive benchmarks.
  • Build category roadmaps aligned to business objectives and enterprise priorities.
  • Conduct scenario planning and evaluate opportunities, risks, and market disruptions.
  • Identify value creation initiatives beyond traditional cost savings.
• Supplier Relationship Management
  • Lead strategic supplier relationships and executive business reviews.
  • Establish supplier performance scorecards covering cost, quality, service, innovation, sustainability, and risk.
  • Drive supplier accountability and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Develop supplier segmentation strategies and governance models.
  • Foster innovation and collaboration with key suppliers.
• Commercial & Financial Leadership
  • Lead sourcing events, negotiations, and contract development.
  • Build total cost of ownership (TCO) analyses to support sourcing decisions.
  • Deliver annual savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and value generation targets.
  • Develop pricing strategies and monitor key market indices.
  • Partner with Finance to validate and track realized value.
• Supply Risk & Resiliency
  • Assess and monitor supplier operational, financial, geopolitical, and capacity risks.
  • Develop risk mitigation strategies and supply continuity plans.
  • Evaluate single-source exposure and implement resilience strategies where appropriate.
  • Lead supplier recovery efforts during service disruptions and business continuity events.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Collaborate with Operations, Planning, Product Development, Quality, Logistics, and Finance.
  • Provide sourcing leadership during product launches, network changes, and strategic initiatives.
  • Influence business decisions without direct authority.
  • Lead cross-functional projects and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Innovation & Sustainability
  • Identify supplier-driven innovation opportunities.
  • Support sustainability goals through responsible sourcing programs.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies, materials, and processes.
  • Drive supplier participation in environmental and social responsibility initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or related field.
• 5+ years of Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, or related experience.
• Experience leading supplier negotiations and contract management.
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive change.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and data analysis tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing, packaging, ingredients, logistics, or related industries.
• Professional certifications (CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, CPM, or equivalent).
• Experience leading strategic supplier relationships.
• Power BI or other analytics platform experience.

Benefits

• Retirement Benefits
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) from day one.
  • 8% 401(k) match into the ESOP.
  • Additional annual contribution of about 8% of earnings toward retirement (total company contribution of around 16% annually).
• Bonus Pay
  • Opportunity to earn incentive pay twice a year when company goals are met.
• Relocation Benefits
  • $10,000 relocation bonus plus a generous relocation package if relocating more than 50 miles for this position.
• Childcare Support
  • Up to $5,000 annually to help with childcare costs, including independent babysitters.
• Wellness Incentives
  • Earn a Wellness Incentive and receive an employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) for fitness, mental health, and other lifestyle expenses.
• Professional Development
  • Tuition reimbursement for further education.
• Health Benefits
  • Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision benefits starting day one.
  • Onsite nurse and mental health counselor.
• Community Support
  • Partners Helping Partners program, where employees organize fundraisers to support colleagues in need.

Schedule

Flexible hybrid work schedule: 3 days/week onsite at Home Office in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and 2 days/week from home (Monday-Friday).