Senior Purchasing Manager, Outside Contract Manufacturing (OCM)

Thorne

South Carolina

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 125,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Company-paid health/dental/vision

401k with employer matching

Gym membership reimbursement

PTO & volunteering time off

Career development

Job summary

Thorne is seeking a Senior Purchasing Manager, Outside Contract Manufacturing (OCM) to lead strategic sourcing for finished goods and materials through external partners. The role emphasizes negotiating complex supplier agreements, optimizing cost and supply continuity, and partnering with cross-functional teams.

This remote, full-time position requires 6+ years in procurement or contract manufacturing, strong negotiation, ERP experience, and travel about 10–15%.

Qualifications

Six or more years in procurement, sourcing, or contract manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end procurement for finished goods and materials from outside contract manufacturers.
Develop and execute sourcing strategies to support cost, quality, capacity and supply continuity.
Evaluate supplier quotations, negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, and capacity.
Negotiate and execute supplier agreements, statements of work, and other purchasing documents.
Monitor supplier performance with established metrics and lead improvement efforts.
Maintain inventory alignment with production needs and demand plans.
Collaborate with Planning, Quality, Regulatory, R&D, Operations and external partners.

Skills

Supplier negotiation

Strategic sourcing

Contract manufacturing

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical decision-making

Leadership

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain/Procurement/Business/Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Job description

Senior Purchasing Manager, Outside Contract Manufacturing (OCM)

Department: Purchasing

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote

Reporting To: Amy Lind

Compensation: $120,000 - $125,000 / year

Description

At Thorne, we work to deliver high-quality, science-backed solutions to empower individuals to take a proactive approach to their well-being. Each day begins with a mission to help others discover and achieve their best health. We count on our team members to challenge and push the boundaries to make that happen. At Thorne, you’ll be joining a team of more than 750 passionate individuals committed to our cause of providing superior health solutions at every age and life stage.

The Senior Purchasing Manager, Outside Contract Manufacturing (OCM) leads the strategic sourcing and procurement of finished goods and materials produced by Thorne's Outside Contract Manufacturing partners. This role is responsible for developing sourcing strategies, negotiating commercial agreements, managing supplier performance, and ensuring the reliable supply of high-quality products that support Thorne's manufacturing and business objectives.

Working closely with Planning, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Research & Development, Operations, Finance, and external manufacturing partners, the Senior Purchasing Manager develops and executes supplier strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, capacity, and supply continuity. This position oversees the end-to-end procurement process, manages key supplier relationships, and drives continuous improvement across the contract manufacturing network while ensuring compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and internal quality standards.

The ideal candidate is a strategic procurement leader with deep experience managing contract manufacturers, negotiating complex supplier agreements, and building long-term partnerships that support operational excellence and business growth.

Travel Requirements: Approximately 10-15%

RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage the end-to-end procurement process for finished goods and materials sourced from Outside Contract Manufacturers.
Develop and execute sourcing strategies that support business growth, supply continuity, product quality, capacity requirements, and cost objectives.
Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers and contract manufacturing partners based on quality, cost, capacity, lead time, service, technical capability, and operational risk.
Evaluate supplier quotations and service proposals and negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, capacity commitments, and other commercial terms.
Negotiate and support the execution of supplier agreements, statements of work, pricing agreements, and other purchasing documentation.
Issue and manage purchase orders in accordance with approved demand plans, production schedules, contractual requirements, and inventory targets.
Ensure Thorne-supplied materials required by contract manufacturers are purchased, delivered, and available in alignment with production needs.
Identify cost-reduction, cost-avoidance, and value-improvement opportunities without compromising quality, service, or supply continuity.

Build and maintain productive relationships with contract manufacturers and key suppliers to support performance, capacity, quality, innovation, and long-term partnership objectives.
Monitor and evaluate supplier performance using established metrics, including on-time delivery, quality, cost, responsiveness, service, and corrective-action effectiveness.
Lead regular supplier performance reviews and partner with suppliers to address performance gaps, capacity constraints, quality concerns, and delivery risks.
Stay informed of supplier capabilities, market conditions, emerging technologies, product developments, industry trends, and changes that may affect supply or cost.
Partner with Quality to support supplier qualification, procurement audits, corrective actions, and ongoing supplier compliance activities.
Escalate significant supplier risks and develop mitigation plans, alternate sourcing strategies, or recovery actions as needed.
Maintain awareness of contract manufacturer capacity and proactively address potential supply constraints.

Partner with Research and Development, Innovation, Quality, Planning, and Operations teams to support sourcing activities for new products, reformulations, and product changes.
Identify and evaluate potential contract manufacturers and suppliers for new initiatives based on technical capability, cost, quality, lead time, capacity, and scalability.
Support supplier onboarding, quote analysis, feasibility reviews, commercialization planning, and launch-readiness activities.
Coordinate purchasing requirements and supplier commitments to support project timelines and product-launch objectives.

Work closely with Planning and the Outside Contract Manufacturing Manager to monitor production schedules, material availability, and supplier on-time delivery.
Maintain appropriate inventory levels to support customer demand and production schedules while minimizing excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory.
Review purchasing, inventory, supplier, and demand reports to identify risks, trends, and required actions.
Resolve purchasing issues involving goods, services, materials, invoices, delivery, quality, pricing, or specifications in partnership with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
Ensure purchasing data, supplier information, pricing, lead times, and purchase-order records are accurate and current within the Enterprise Resource Planning system.
Communicate supply risks, supplier issues, cost impacts, and recommended solutions clearly to business leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

Provide guidance, training, and support to less-experienced purchasing team members.
Explain procurement processes, requirements, and business considerations to cross-functional partners.
Identify and implement improvements to sourcing, purchasing, supplier management, reporting, and procurement workflows.
Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance objectives for assigned team members, where applicable.
Support a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented culture focused on quality, service, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
Perform other procurement and supply-chain responsibilities as assigned.

WHAT YOU NEED

High school diploma or GED required.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business, Operations, Finance, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Six or more years of progressive experience in procurement, purchasing, sourcing, supply chain, contract manufacturing, or a related field.
Experience managing suppliers or contract manufacturers in a manufacturing environment required.
Experience working within a Material Requirements Planning or Enterprise Resource Planning environment required.
Experience in dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, medical devices, or another regulated manufacturing industry preferred.
Experience negotiating commercial terms, supplier agreements, pricing, lead times, and capacity commitments.
Previous experience leading, mentoring, or training purchasing professionals preferred.

Strong understanding of procurement fundamentals, strategic sourcing, supplier management, purchase-order administration, inventory planning, and contract manufacturing.
Knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices, supplier quality requirements, and procurement controls within a regulated environment.
Ability to evaluate supplier quotations, cost models, lead times, payment terms, service levels, and total cost of ownership.
Proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning and Material Requirements Planning systems.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Ability to interpret purchasing, inventory, supplier-performance, financial, production, and demand-planning reports.
Familiarity with supplier scorecards, performance metrics, risk assessments, corrective actions, and audit processes.
Strong numerical and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate pricing, usage, inventory, forecasts, and cost variances.

Strong negotiation, supplier-management, and relationship-building skills.
Sound judgment with the ability to balance cost, quality, service, risk, and supply continuity.
Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to translate data into practical recommendations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, supplier relationships, deadlines, and projects in a fast-paced environment.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with suppliers, senior leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Ability to identify risks, raise concerns promptly, and develop pragmatic solutions.
Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accurate purchasing records and reliable execution.
Ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned objectives, and deliver results with limited oversight.
Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build alignment and influence without relying solely on authority.
Ability to coach, train, and support the development of less-experienced purchasing professionals.
Commitment to continuous improvement, accountability, customer service, and operational excellence.

Physical Demands

The physical requirements described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while performing computer-based and administrative work.
Ability to move throughout office, manufacturing, warehouse, laboratory, and supplier environments as needed.
Ability to communicate effectively with employees, business partners, and suppliers in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
Ability to review printed and electronic documentation, reports, contracts, purchase orders, and detailed records.
Ability to work in office and manufacturing environments with moderate noise levels.
Ability to work scheduled shifts and additional hours as business needs require.
Ability to travel approximately 10-15% to supplier, contract manufacturer, or company locations.

WHAT WE OFFER