Sr Category Buyer

E.A. Sween Company; Eden Prairie (MN); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

E.A. Sween Company seeks a strategic Senior Category Buyer to drive procurement excellence from Eden Prairie, MN, with on-site work and one day of work-from-home flexibility.

The role focuses on category strategy, supplier relations, and alignment with sales and marketing to optimize materials and costs. Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in procurement and a strong analytics background, plus advanced Excel skills and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with strong mathematics, statistics, or business background.
• Advanced analytical skills and supply chain expertise.
• Negotiation abilities under pressure and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with industry partners to ensure a 'customer of choice' profile.
• Follow macro and micro economic trends and inform the organization of implications for execution.
• Lead category buying by sourcing quality materials at competitive prices to support production and on-time delivery.
• Align cross-functionally with internal partners to support potential innovation or new tools.
• Create category strategies to ensure access to the best suppliers and capabilities.

Skills

Advanced analytical skills

Negotiation under pressure

Procurement & supply chain experience

Advanced Excel

Market analysis & forecasting

Education

Bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, or business

Job description

Who We Are

Since 1955, we have been on a mission To Passionately Feed Millions Daily with High Quality Food People Enjoy! We are a third-generation family-owned and professionally managed organization with a commitment to strategic growth. We continue to be successful because of talented people, just like you, who choose to join our family and call E.A. Sween home. We pride ourselves on fostering a welcoming, respectful, and rewarding culture where employees are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work each and every day. At E.A. Sween, our team members are seen, heard, and appreciated not just for what they do, but for who they are. We hope you’ll join us!

What We’re Seeking

A strategic Senior Category Buyer that will push the team forward, using their vision and implementation of appropriate measures to ensure optimal execution of sales and marketing strategies to customers.

This position is primarily on site in our Eden Prairie, MN office - 1-day WFH

Compensation: The target salary range for this position is $83,000-$87,000 annually, consistent with our internal compensation framework. This position is classified as Grade 13, with a full pay range of $66,097-$99,200. You are eligible for an incentive bonus up to 5% of your annual salary, prorated based on your start date. Final pay will be determined by your experience, skills, internal equity, and available budget.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

Manage relationships with industry partners to ensure “customer of choice” profile. Follow macro and micro economic trends and inform the organization of implications and potential choices for execution. Lead category buying by sourcing quality materials at competitive prices to support plants production while ensuring on time delivery. Align cross-functionally with internal partners to adequately support potential innovation or new tools. Create category strategies to ensure EA Sween has access to the best suppliers and industry capabilities available to achieve our goals.

Material Management:

• Ensure adequate supplier capacity and customer service levels for raw materials to production facilities.
• Ensure adequate service level of in-network raw materials and finished goods.
• Maintain appropriate level of relationships and contract management with suppliers.
• Manage market metrics to inform internal partners of dynamics in the industry that would impact organizational effectiveness.
• Establish service level agreements and contracts for appropriate raw materials.

Risk Management:

• Drive strategy on evolving supplier’s capabilities based on customer demand, service, cost, and industry dynamics.
• Develop and manage key KPIs for controls such as on-time ship, cost, throughput, capacity, yield loss, labor, etc.
• Develop and drive supplier relationship management to keep in good standing and be a “Customer of Choice.”
• Keep abreast of industry trends to include evolving demographics, industry changes, emerging potential supply chain risks, and consumer interests.
• Develop and manage continuity of supply of raw materials.
• Create a regular process to utilize external expertise to analyze and assess key market dynamics, i.e., materials and underlying commodities. Form a perspective with the broader team and communicate regularly with key internal stakeholders.

Organizational Design and Support:

• Work cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Transportation, Food Safety, Sales, Marketing, R&D, etc. to support our sales and marketing efforts.
• Participate in cross functional continuous improvement initiatives that drive cost savings from end to end of the business.

Technical Expertise:

• Understanding of industry dynamics and work with ambiguity.
• Ability to think strategically 3-5 years out.
• Drive key metric implementation and management.
• Supplier relationship management.
• Peer to Peer collaboration on goal setting.
• Leadership and development of procurement resources.

What You’ll Need (Qualifications)

1. Bachelor’s degree with a strong mathematics, statistics, or business background.
2. Advanced analytical skills.
3. Interpersonal effectiveness and negotiation skills under pressure.
4. Minimum of 5 years of diverse Procurement and Supply Chain experience.
5. Advanced excel.
6. Ability to analyze and anticipate changes in market conditions, ability to implement appropriate tools and utilize effectively.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Generally, an office/desk position using a computer and telephone.
• Must be able to work occasional extra hours, evenings, and weekends if necessary.
• Must be able to work on multiple projects at a time.
• Travel 20% -30% of the year.

How You’ll Find Success at EAS

• Value People Most of All: Show respect & care, embrace diversity, and empower others.
• Commit to Safety Everyday: See something say something do something, practice safe behavior, and celebrate safety success.
• Invest in Our Company to Thrive: Share ideas to improve, learn & grow, and embrace change.
• Think Before Doing and Act Decisively: Make thoughtful decisions, work together to find solutions, and do what’s right.
• Welcome Constructive Straight Talk: Be honest and respectful even when difficult, be open to ideas and feedback, and ask questions to understand.
• Serve Up Exceptional Experiences: Provide value to customers, take pride in your work, and help others to be successful.
• Enjoy What You Do!: Have a positive attitude, Live the Spirit of E.A. Sween, and celebrate success.