Procurement Category Manager

Balchem Corporation; Montvale (NJ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Balchem Corporation in Montvale, New Jersey is seeking a Category Manager to develop and execute procurement strategies that ensure supply continuity and drive innovation across U.S. and European markets. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of procurement experience, strong analytical abilities, and excellent communication skills.

In this high-visibility role, the manager will lead cross-functional teams to build a best-in-class supplier network, optimizing costs and ensuring the highest quality. Strong knowledge of direct category management is preferred for candidates.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of procurement experience and at least 3 years of project management experience.
• Strong understanding of direct category management; food ingredients or chemicals industry experience preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; advanced Excel skills preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute procurement strategies to drive innovation and ensure supply continuity.
• Lead sourcing events and end-to-end supplier selection processes.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships to improve performance.

Skills

Procurement experience

Project management

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Finance, Operations, Business Management, Engineering, or a related field

MBA and/or CPM certification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Company Overview

Balchem Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets specialty ingredients that improve and enhance the health and well‑being of life on the planet, providing state‑of‑the‑art solutions and the finest quality products for a range of industries worldwide. Our corporate headquarters is located in Montvale, New Jersey and we have a broad network of sales offices, manufacturing sites, and R&D centers, primarily located in the US and Europe. Founded in 1967, Balchem is a publicly traded company (NASDAQ – "BCPC") with annual revenues over $1.0 billion and a market cap exceeding $4.0 billion. The company consists of three business segments: Human Nutrition & Health; Animal Nutrition & Health; and Specialty Products. Balchem employs over 1,400 people worldwide who are engaged in diverse activities, committed to developing the company into global market leadership positions. To learn more about our dynamic, stable and growing company, visit www.balchem.com.

Position Summary

This role develops and executes procurement strategies that drive innovation, ensures supply continuity, optimizes cost, and strengthens supplier stewardship across Balchem’s direct spend categories in the U.S. and Europe. The Category Manager defines sourcing strategies, manages stakeholder alignment, and delivers total cost of ownership improvements through market insight, risk management, and disciplined execution. This high‑visibility role partners across business units and cross‑functional teams to build a best‑in‑class supplier network that delivers innovation, financial improvement, and reliable supply.

Essential Functions

The manager will create an Annual Work Plan and review quarterly with their manager to ensure alignment on priorities and deliverables.

Strategy Development and Sourcing Execution

Lead the development and execution of procurement strategies with cross‑functional teams, including market analysis, supplier capability assessment, and supplier relationship management.

• Build stakeholder alignment around sourcing, implementation, and compliance initiatives.
• Provide market intelligence and category expertise to inform sourcing and business strategy.
• Develop and prioritize a pipeline of sourcing and value‑creation projects.
• Lead sourcing events, negotiation strategies, and end‑to‑end supplier selection processes.
• Manage RFIs/RFPs, contracts, SLAs, and related strategic sourcing activities.
• Challenge specifications and identify innovative supply solutions that create a competitive advantage for Balchem.
• Drive project execution, governance, and progress reporting against strategy and performance goals.
• Build cost models, should‑cost analyses, and make‑versus‑buy scenarios to improve total cost of ownership.
• Support process improvements and drive change management across the organization to elevate the impact of Procurement on Balchem business objectives.
• Regular KPI reporting to senior leadership.

Supplier Management and Capability Development

• Identify and qualify new suppliers to strengthen cost, service, and capability options.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships to improve financial and operational performance.
• Promote supplier innovation aligned with stakeholders and business goals.
• Resolve supplier performance issues affecting cost, quality, or service.
• Support supplier scorecards, KPIs, contract compliance, and performance feedback.
• Lead collaborative sessions to identify total cost of ownership reduction opportunities.

Business, R&D, and Supply Chain Partnership

• Support and communicate procurement objectives, strategies, and vision for direct materials.
• Influence business, innovation, and supply chain strategies through cross‑functional leadership engagement.
• Build and advance continuous improvement and value‑creation project pipelines.
• Lead supplier and raw material qualification initiatives to improve speed, resilience, and efficiency.
• Drive contract implementation, compliance, process efficiency, and executive reporting on strategy, savings, and KPIs.
• Improve cross‑functional processes that accelerate new material approvals, trials, and supplier onboarding.

Tactical Procurement Support

• Maintain project documentation, tools, and templates in shared knowledge repositories.
• Track payment terms, savings, contract compliance, and other key performance metrics.
• Help mitigate supply continuity risks and resolve tactical supply issues as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Finance, Operations, Business Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of procurement experience and at least 3 years of project management experience.
• Preferred: MBA and/or CPM certification.
• Strong understanding of direct category management; food ingredients or chemicals industry experience preferred.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to influence in a highly matrixed environment and clearly communicate Procurement strategy.
• Proven track record in partnering with senior leadership and cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, model business scenarios, and identify measurable value opportunities.
• Working knowledge of contracts, sourcing processes, and continuous improvement principles.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; advanced Excel skills preferred.
• Ability to travel 10–30% as needed.