Strategic Purchasing Manager - Packaging & Ingredients

Red River Commodities; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-demand pay

Paid time off

Paid Holidays

401k & company match

Profit Sharing

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Red River Commodities is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead domestic and international sourcing for packaging materials and ingredients. You will develop sourcing strategies, manage supplier relationships, and guide a team of three buyers to ensure timely, cost-effective procurement while upholding food safety and quality standards.

The ideal candidate brings strong negotiation skills, global and domestic supplier management experience, and a track record of driving cost savings

Qualifications

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Logistics, Procurement, or related work experience.
• 2+ years of progressive procurement, purchasing, or supply chain experience.
• Proven supplier negotiation and contract management experience.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, purchasing software, and Microsoft Excel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for packaging materials, ingredients, and other assigned categories.
• Evaluate market conditions, supplier capabilities, pricing trends, and supply risks to support strategic purchasing decisions.
• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve quality, and increase supply chain efficiency.
• Lead supplier selection processes including RFQs, bids, and contract negotiations.
• Develop contingency plans to minimize supply disruptions and maintain business continuity.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with domestic and international suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, service agreements, and supply contracts.
• Monitor supplier performance through key metrics including quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost competitiveness.
• Collaborate with suppliers to identify continuous improvement and innovation opportunities.
• Conduct supplier reviews and lead corrective actions when performance expectations are not met.
• Ensure timely procurement of materials to support production schedules and customer demand.
• Review inventory levels, forecasts, and demand plans to optimize purchasing decisions.
• Approve purchase orders and oversee purchasing activities performed by the procurement team.
• Monitor lead times and proactively address material shortages or supply risks.
• Work closely with Demand Planning, Operations, Quality, Logistics, and Sales teams to ensure alignment on material requirements.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of three purchasing professionals.
• Establish goals, priorities, and performance expectations for direct reports.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Provide guidance on supplier negotiations, purchasing decisions, and procurement best practices.
• Support succession planning and employee development within the purchasing function.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies, food safety requirements, regulatory standards, and import/export regulations.
• Manage supplier documentation, contracts, certifications, and records.
• Monitor procurement KPIs including cost savings, service levels, supplier performance, inventory turns, and on-time delivery.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for leadership regarding sourcing strategies and procurement performance.
• Assess supplier and market risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Decision making

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Education

Degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

ERP software

Power BI

Purchasing software

Job description

Red River Commodities is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager to lead domestic and international sourcing for packaging materials and ingredients. You will develop sourcing strategies, manage supplier relationships, and guide a team of three buyers to ensure timely, cost-effective procurement while upholding food safety and quality standards.

The ideal candidate brings strong negotiation skills, global and domestic supplier management experience, and a track record of driving cost savings