Sr. Manager, Direct Procurement

Responsibilities

• Oversees day-to-day, full-cycle, procurement activities for GTI’s top brands and related categories.
• Leads the packaging procurement team by setting daily priorities, managing workload distribution, and ensuring timely execution of key deliverables.
• Evaluates market-available solutions, provides strategic recommendations by partnering with engineering, brand, marketing, and project teams to drive alignment, collaboration, and successful execution.
• Leads the Sourcing Process, including preparing RFI/RFQ/RFPs by working closely with stakeholders to understand their needs, translating that into the sourcing process.
• Oversees the management of ongoing vendor relationships and supplier performance across their portfolio; acts as a point-of contact and subject matter expert on contract terms; responsible for renewal of existing contracts and renegotiations of pricing.
• Identifies strategic opportunities which result in cost savings, areas for efficiency and opportunities for Procurement team.
• Works closely with the accounting team to ensure vendor billing is correct and terms & conditions are adhered to.
• Partner with Innovation, Project Management, and Brand teams to coordinate and deliver new projects.
• Follows procurement strategies, policies and procedures as defined by the leadership team, develops a comprehensive understanding of the business and user requirements for assigned spend categories.
• Develops a business relationship with functional stakeholders on the Operations, Brand, Marketing & Project teams and solicits feedback on sourcing and vendor performance, shares and discusses supply base opportunities, and identifies new and changed needs.
• Builds a network of reliable and quality suppliers and vendors; forges close supplier relationships with specific vendors.
• Drives tracking and reporting for assigned spend areas; develops tracking mechanisms and supplier key performance indicators with the Director; tracks compliance and develops leakage reports; supports formal management reporting to director and other members of senior management.
• Manages complex negotiations with suppliers that require a detailed strategic plan.
• Maintains on-time delivery of all materials, including timely resolution, communication, and mitigation of future potential problems.
• Determines and establishes optimal inventory levels based on forecast, demand variation and equipment lead times.
• Identifies and drives process improvement workstreams to support both Procurement and cross-functional business partners.
• Supports the development of cross-functional teams by identifying internal customers and stakeholders for inclusion; interfaces with internal customers to understand requirements and resolves issues; involves key stakeholders in sourcing development and execution.
• Identifies and partners with business stakeholders to execute cost reduction opportunities to achieve financial goals without compromising quality or service.
• Lead or input in special projects as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field: business, supply chain, finance
• 7+ years in procurement (on-shore, near shore and global) and contract administration/management; experience purchasing direct materials (packaging, ingredients, etc.)
• Strong people management skills.
• Expertise in the supplier market landscapes: major suppliers, trends, threats, terms, etc.
• Strong analytical skills preferred.
• Hands-on expertise in developing and implementing programs for cost reduction, supplier performance management and inventory reduction and well-versed in all stages of procurement.
• APICS or Supply Chain Certification is preferred.
• Experience with MRP/ERP systems preferred.
• Highly motivated, self-directed, innovative, and able to work independently or among teams with keen judgement, common sense and resourcefulness.
• Adapts and thrives in a demanding, start-up, fast-paced environment.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills (verbal, non-verbal, written), with the ability to build relationships at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Possesses a high level of critical thinking & problem solving.
• Operates with a high level of professionalism and integrity, including dealing with confidential information.