Tech-Savvy Procurement Category Manager

Tarter Farm and Ranch; Meadowthorpe (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarter Farm and Ranch seeks a Procurement Technical Category Manager to join our Lexington/Dunnville hybrid team. You’ll shape supplier selection, drive design-for-cost early in product development, and influence manufacturing choices to bend the cost curve.

You must read engineering drawings, negotiate effectively, and lead VA/VE initiatives with Finance. Expect cross-functional impact with Engineering, Operations, and Quality, and travel to supplier sites as needed.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in strategic sourcing, engineering, category management, or technical procurement in manufacturing.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction or New Product Development programs.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and specs without a translator.
• Track record of leading cost-reduction initiatives with validated savings.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.

Responsibilities

• New Product Integration (NPI): partner with Engineering to qualify suppliers, drive DFM/DFC, and keep sourcing on schedule.
• Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE): lead cross-functional cost-reduction initiatives and prove savings with Finance.
• Technical category management: build sourcing strategies across machining, forging, casting, molding, fabrication, welding, finishing.
• Cost modeling & should-cost analysis: analyze material, labor, overhead, tooling, and freight costs.
• Supplier development & negotiation: lead RFQs, evaluate capabilities, and build strategic supplier relationships.
• Supply risk management: identify capacity/geopolitical risks and develop mitigation plans and alternate sources.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Engineering understanding

Category management

Technical procurement

Negotiation

Project management

Reading engineering drawings

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain/Engineering/Business

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Epicor

Job description

Tarter Farm and Ranch seeks a Procurement Technical Category Manager to join our Lexington/Dunnville hybrid team. You’ll shape supplier selection, drive design-for-cost early in product development, and influence manufacturing choices to bend the cost curve.

You must read engineering drawings, negotiate effectively, and lead VA/VE initiatives with Finance. Expect cross-functional impact with Engineering, Operations, and Quality, and travel to supplier sites as needed.