Category Manager – Ingredients

westrockcoffeeexternaljobs; Conway (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

westrockcoffeeexternaljobs is seeking an experienced Procurement Category Manager to lead sourcing strategy for packaging and related materials. You will develop multi-year procurement plans, evaluate and select vendor partners, and drive cost improvements while ensuring quality and compliance across the supply chain.

The role requires strong negotiation, vendor management, and cross-functional collaboration with Product Development and Manufacturing teams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Category Management/Procurement or Supply Chain Management in consumer goods.

Responsibilities

• Develop sourcing Category Management plans (Aluminum Cans and/or Glass Bottles packaging) to drive multi-year procurement plans and events.
• Source and assess potential trustworthy partners.
• Create and utilize multi-step sourcing processes to drive Best Value relationships with vendors.
• Coordinate with Global Sourcing and QA to ensure specs and standards are met.
• Support commercialization of NPD projects with sales team.
• Liaise between Procurement and Manufacturing for effective communication.

Skills

Category Management

Procurement

Supply Chain

Vendor Management

Cost Analysis

ERP Systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Procurement / Supply Chain

Tools

NetSuite

MS Office

Job description

Dynamic, self-motivated and results oriented leader with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Adaptable and transformational manager with an ability to develop opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Principal Job Functions:

• Develop sourcing Category Management plans (Aluminum Cans and/or Glass Bottles packaging for food + beverage manufacturing) that analyze and calculate costs of procurement and use those category management plans to drive multi-year procurement plans and events to maintain flat to down raw material costs in inflationary environments.
• Source and assess potential trustworthy partners.
• Develop a system to evaluate partners to ensure quality, price, delivery, and service. Review periodically to ensure compliance to agreed-upon terms and conditions.
• Create and utilize multi-step sourcing processes that drive Best Value relationships with vendors, teaching those sourcing processes to direct reports and the Global Sourcing team to ensure Continuous Improvement in the supply chain.
• Works with packaging vendors to minimize waste and introduce higher quality/lower cost packaging options.
• Works with product development on the future of Ridged packaging and is partner on innovation and the introduction of new technologies.
• Executes contracts, RFI/RFP, proposals and vendor agreements for legal correctness, price, and acceptability of items to specifications.
• Interfaces and aligns with Global Sourcing Quality Assurance team to ensure specifications and standards are consistently met.
• Support commercialization of NPD (New Product Development) projects with sales team
• Liaise between Procurement and Manufacturing to ensure effective communication.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of years of experience in Category Management/Procurement, or Supply Chain Management, strong preference in the food and beverage manufacturing space or other consumer packaged goods.
• Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Engineering, Business. Higher degree a plus.
• Preferred Licensing or Certifications for Procurement Category Manager: CPSM, CPM, PMP, MCIPS, CPIM, APICS, C.P.M, DOT, ISM, CIRM.
• Experience in packaging, preferably in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing a diverse set of external vendors, including sourcing, managing contracts, risk management, forecasting, developing category strategies, and manufacturing relationships.
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, NetSuite or other similar ERP systems).
• Ability to work in fast paced high pressure environment where change is constant and needs to be managed with internal and external customers.
• Financial understanding of P&L and ability to drive results for bottom line profit.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Vets / Disabled