Sourcing Category Manager

Greencore USA; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Greencore USA is seeking a Strategic Sourcing Category Manager to lead national/local sourcing strategies for direct materials. You will analyze markets, select suppliers, negotiate contracts, and develop budgets in partnership with site operations and R&D.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, risk management and continuous improvement, with a focus on reducing total cost of ownership while maintaining supply stability across Greencore USA sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Supply Chain, Finance, Economics).
• Experience in strategic sourcing or procurement in manufacturing preferred.
• Strong negotiation, analytical and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develops and manages category sourcing strategies, contracting and supply planning.
• Provides leadership for market outlooks, risk management and PPV forecasting.
• Develops and executes annual operating plan and cost reduction initiatives.
• Manages internal stakeholder relationships across multiple sites to implement sourcing strategies.
• Creates processes and KPIs with Materials & Supply Planning teams, balancing priorities.
• Builds and maintains supplier relationships through periodic reviews and value engineering.
• Assesses contractual, financial and supply risk; implements mitigation strategies.
• Develops market intelligence and tracks trends to inform supply decisions.
• Identifies opportunities to lower total cost of ownership while ensuring supply.
• Supports new product development by sourcing appropriate materials.

Skills

Category management

Negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Forecasting

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Excel

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance or Economics

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Word

ERP systems

Job description

The Strategic Sourcing Category Manager is a member of Greencore's Central Procurement Organization and will lead the development, implementation and oversight of national and/or localized sourcing strategies and tactics for assigned direct material categories. As a category expert, you have a deep understanding of applicable supply markets, applying that knowledge across the Source to Pay spectrum including supply market research, supplier selection & onboarding, contract negotiations, budget development and forecasting, risk management, short- and long-term supply plans and supplier performance and relationship management. This role identifies value-creation opportunities, leads cross-functional / site projects for the category, supports innovation and collaborates closely with site operations, materials & supply management, finance and R&D.

Position Responsibilities

• Develops and manages all aspects of category sourcing strategies, contracting and supply planning including category/supplier market intelligence, competitive bidding/negotiations/contracting and supplier relationship management – ensuring Company and business/site objectives are supported
• Provides leadership and oversite for category critical tasks including market outlooks, risk management / business continuity planning, supplier performance management and PPV forecasting
• Develops and executes Annual Operating Plan, cost reduction/productivity initiatives and monthly PPV forecasting
• Establishes and manages relationship with internal stakeholders at all Greencore USA sites, ensuring the successful implementation of sourcing strategies, ongoing supplier management activities & productivity initiatives
• Creates/manages processes & KPIs collaborative with the Materials & Supply Planning teams balancing multiple priorities/metrics including inventory levels, inventory turns, PPV, stock outs, obsolescence & contract compliance
• Establishes and manages relationship with suppliers to include periodic business reviews, contractual cost/price/performance reviews, cross functional ideation sessions and value engineering workshops
• Evaluates multiple risk areas including contractual/legal, financial viability, cost and supply chain disruption; develops risk management strategies and mitigation activities to reduce likelihood of occurrence and degree of business impact
• Develops, manages and executes a market intelligence & monitoring process for assigned categories, using insights and trends to liaise strategically with the business and suppliers
• Identifies value creation opportunities to lower total cost of ownership while ensuring supply
• Supports new product development by identifying appropriate sources for new materials, providing cost inputs to P&Ls while establishing supply strategies/plans

Position requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in Supply Chain Management, Finance or Economics
• 5 years’ experience in Strategic Sourcing or Procurement within the food manufacturing sector
• Professional certification in Supply Management preferred
• Strategic mindset with quantitative, problem-solving, project management, negotiation skills, strong business and financial acumen
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills with the ability to build trust across a multiple site organization, leading by influence and integrity
• Adept at managing change and working through ambiguity to identify and drive to a solution, both independently and collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and organization excellence with a positive winning attitude and high energy level
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; ability to understand and work with multiple ERP systems