Mgr Category Procurement

The Hershey Company; Hershey (PA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hershey Company is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead category strategy, supplier relationships, and value delivery for $100M+ in spend. You will manage a small team, drive sustainable sourcing, and collaborate with Supply Chain, R&D, and Manufacturing to unlock value and improve performance.

Responsibilities include developing strategic sourcing plans, risk management, and performance improvements while leveraging data and technology to optimize cost and resilience across

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in materials management, sourcing or procurement.
• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, economics or related field.
• Experience in Consumer Packaged Goods is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of procurement principles and supplier management.
• Ability to collaborate and influence internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of category strategy and strategic sourcing plans.
• Ensure supply resilience, business continuity and sustainable sourcing across assigned categories.
• Refresh category strategy at least annually to maintain competitive advantage.
• Utilize spend analytics to identify sourcing and savings opportunities.
• Build forecast and budgeting plans for the category.
• Negotiate contracts and manage supplier performance and risk.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing) on innovations and improvements.
• Drive cost savings and working capital improvements.

Skills

Agile

Strategic mindset

Data analytics

Project management

RFP experience

Contract negotiations

Procurement

Supplier management

Stakeholder influence

Microsoft Excel

SAP

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain

Economics or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

SAP

Job description

Why Hershey: At The Hershey Company, our culture is rooted in purpose and inspired by Milton Hershey’s enduring vision that business should create opportunity for others. Through our commitment to corporate philanthropy, we create positive impact by supporting communities, helping children thrive, and operating as a business for good. This includes our deep and long standing partnership with Milton Hershey School, where we invest in education, workforce readiness, and hands on engagement to help students succeed beyond the classroom. Supported by strategic grantmaking, product donations, cross brand collaboration, and strong employee volunteerism, Hershey offers a place to work where making a difference—locally and globally—is part of how we do business every day.

Job Overview

Position is responsible for the category management, supplier relationship management, value delivery, sustainability & resiliency of their assigned categories of $100M+ in spend and team of 1-3 direct reports.

What will you do?

• Category Management:
  Lead the development and management of category strategy, strategic sourcing plans and execution to ensure supply resilience, BCPs, multi-year roadmap for Continuous Improvement, innovation and sustainability to unlock values, deliver competitive advantages and proactively support business needs
• Strategy includes, but not be limited to, Supplier Segmentation, SWOT analysis, Should Cost Model, Industry Benchmarking, Strategic considerations for the category alternative options and qualification, sustainable sourcing all integrated into strategic sourcing plans
• Refresh category strategy at least once every 12-months to ensure competitive advantage for the Hershey Company in each market and meets the most recent business needs & requirements
• Utilize data and tech including but not limit to spend analytics to identify areas of sourcing/savings opportunity in assigned categories.

Risk Management, Financial Plan Budgeting and Deliver Finance Plan

• Risk management strategies development based on market dynamics analysis, supply and demand data, historical & current trends etc. Secure approval from CCC and lead flawless execution to bring competitive advantages to the Hershey Company’s total cost of ownership, cost visibility and manage prices fluctuations
• Build forecast for annual budgeting and strategic budgeting plans for the category leverage the market trend & information
• Leverage data & tech to drive efficiency and advance the analytical capabilities

Supplier Management & Development :

• Implement supplier relationship management program and manage contract negotiation. Collaborate with supplier executives to obtain preferential business terms and performance for the Hershey Company
• Build regular meeting and governance cadence to manage the engagement and deliver contractual commitments.
• Identify and activate benefits beyond contractual commitments.
• Manage supplier performance issues and challenges with potential exit plans due to loss of business, performance or other risks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team on new supplier identification, development and qualification.
• Routinely pursue knowledge of relevant industries market trends and technology improvements. Use current information in evaluation of suppliers\' capabilities and to determine potential uses of other alternatives to improve cost and performance

Stakeholder Management and Collaborations:

• Lead the partnership with Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, and other appropriate departments to identify and lead innovation sourcing and continuous improvement such as cost savings, quality improvements, alternate supplier qualifications, supplier diversity, and working capital improvement.
• Minimize supplier proliferation and drive key Supply Chain 2.0 deliverables

Qualifications

Experience:

• Agile and flexible to changing demands and workload to ensure timely results.
• Strategic mindset - Translates information and data into recommendations and actions. Sets strategic goals based on insights and with key deliverables and clear business benefits.
• Experience with strategy, analytics, technology solutions or application of AI, and project management
• Strong experience of leading RFP and conducting contract negotiations
• Demonstrated knowledge of procurement and supply chain management principles
• Ability to collaborate and influence internal and external stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal skills with demonstrated experience communicating with business stakeholders and suppliers
• Ability to work effectively and productively in a team environment.
• Willingness and ability to learn at a challenging pace and in a changing environment.
• Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SAP
• Regional travel in NA requirement could reach 25%
• 5-7 years knowledge/relevant experience in materials management, sourcing or procurement and related supply chains.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Economics or related field of study, or equivalent experience, required.
• Experience in Consumer Packaged Goods and sourcing of both direct and indirect materials/services is preferred

Minimum Education & Requirements

5+ years

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual\'s race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.

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