Associate Category Manager - Ingredients (56607)

BEST FORMULATIONS LLC•Industry, CA

11d•$78,000 - $95,000•Onsite

About The Position

SIRIO is a leading global nutraceutical solution provider with extensive expertise in an array of delivery formats. The company is one of the world’s largest providers of soft gel and gummy solutions. SIRIO operates seven state-of-the-art manufacturing sites delivering "global resources, local delivery" to partners in more than 50 countries. In 2023, SIRIO acquired Best Formulations, further solidifying its position as a premier global nutraceutical solution provider, and significantly enhancing its manufacturing capabilities and capacity, with a notable focus on bolstering its presence currently as Sirio Americas California, LLC. As an Associate Category Manager - Ingredients, you will be responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing supplier relationships for ingredient raw materials critical to the production of dietary supplements and nutraceutical products. This role ensures that the company secures the best possible cost, quality, and service levels from suppliers while maintaining compliance with industry regulations and company standards. This position sits within the Sourcing department and operates in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that requires strong independent judgment, the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, and a willingness to learn quickly as market conditions and business needs evolve. The role works closely with Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Research and Development, Finance, and Sales to support ingredient sourcing decisions, cost analysis, new product timelines, and cross-functional alignment across the business.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent GED Certificate
Hands-on sourcing experience with ingredient raw materials, specifically plant-based or botanical/vegetable-derived ingredients
Three (3) + years of sourcing, procurement, or supply chain experience, preferably in the dietary supplement, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or food manufacturing industries.
Any combination of experience, education, and training that provides the level of knowledge, skills, and experience needed to successfully perform the job.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Procurement, or a related field a plus.
working knowledge of animal-derived or functional ingredients such as gelatin, collagen, probiotics, amino acids, and capsule shell materials (HPMC, gelatin-based) is strongly preferred.
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) are a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement category sourcing strategies that align with business objectives and cost-saving initiatives.
Identify and evaluate potential ingredient suppliers based on quality, cost, reliability, regulatory compliance, and country-of-origin considerations to build a qualified and resilient supply base.
Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing agreements to optimize cost savings and supplier performance.
Monitor supplier performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) and develop corrective action plans when necessary.
Conduct ongoing market intelligence to track commodity trends, raw material pricing movements, and supply chain risks across assigned ingredient categories.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, Research and Development, Finance, and Sales to support ingredient-related decisions, new product development timelines, cost inquiries, and customer-facing requirements.
Manage risks associated with supply chain disruptions, including developing contingency plans and maintaining backup sourcing options to protect continuity of supply.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date sourcing documentation, supplier records, and compliance reports.
Manage the end-to-end RFQ process for ingredient raw materials, including issuing quote requests, following up with suppliers, evaluating responses, and communicating timelines and outcomes back to internal teams such as Customer Service, R&D, and Sales within agreed turnaround windows.
Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, certifications, and industry standards, including FDA, cGMP, and other relevant guidelines.
Utilize sourcing tools, databases, and ERP systems to track procurement activities and generate reports.
Assist in supplier audits and ensure adherence to company policies and procedures.
Lead the new supplier onboarding process for ingredient raw materials, including initiating qualification requests with Quality Assurance, collecting required documentation, and coordinating approval timelines to ensure new sources are ready to support production or new product development needs.
Coordinate raw material qualification (RMQ) activities for assigned ingredient categories, working with Quality Assurance to manage re-qualification requests triggered by supplier changes such as site relocations, country-of-origin shifts, or manufacturing process updates, and maintain accurate qualification status records to avoid supply interruptions.
Monitor and assess the impact of U.S. trade policy changes, including tariffs, anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders, and import surcharges, on ingredient raw material costs; develop alternative sourcing strategies and prepare clear cost impact summaries to support internal decision-making and customer-facing communications.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with existing and prospective ingredient suppliers, serving as a consistent point of contact for pricing, availability, lead time, and issue resolution to ensure supply continuity and long-term partnership reliability.
Complies with all company policies and procedures, including safety rules and regulations.
Maintains a safe work environment and operates in a safe manner.
Perform other job duties related to the job, as assigned by management.