Category Sourcing Manager

Florida Food Products, LLC•Indianapolis, IN

12h•Onsite

About The Position

We are a trusted partner to our customers when it comes to innovation and an industry leader in clean label ingredients, we are a true partner. We collaborate with our customers in ways that respect people and the environment. A commitment to Purely Better™ drives our innovation team to discover new, on trend solutions. As a Category Sourcing Manager, they will be responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide sourcing strategies for key ingredients and packaging materials to support business growth while driving cost efficiencies, supply continuity, and continuous improvement. This role leads local, regional, and international sourcing initiatives to deliver long-term competitive advantages across the organization. As a strategic partner to Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, and Sales, the Strategic Sourcing Manager plays a critical role in supplier strategy, risk mitigation, innovation enablement, and contract management. This position reports directly to the Vice President of Procurement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline
Minimum of 8–10 years of experience in procurement and strategic sourcing, with strong category management expertise
Highly preferred experience sourcing agricultural products, food ingredients, and packaging materials
Ideal category experience includes Tea, Coffee, Botanicals, or Fruits & Vegetables
Strong financial and business acumen, including PPV management, P&L impact, cash flow optimization, spend analysis, and supply/demand forecasting
Extensive knowledge of import/export processes and trade compliance
Demonstrated ability to build, evaluate, and manage a reliable global supplier network
Proven success in complex contract negotiations
Strong leadership and team-building capabilities, with the ability to coach and mentor
Ability to influence stakeholders, manage ambiguity, and demonstrate resilience
Strong project management skills supporting cross-functional initiatives
Data-driven decision-maker capable of analyzing complex data sets quickly
Excellent interpersonal, conflict management, communication, and presentation skills
Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Business Central, Great Plains, or similar platforms)
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
Ability to travel up to 10% or more as required

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline
6+ years of experience sourcing Tea, Coffee, Fruits & Vegetables
8+ years of experience sourcing packaging materials
10+ years of experience in food manufacturing environments
10+ years of experience working in or with foodservice organizations
10+ years of experience working in or with consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies
Professional certification such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)

Responsibilities

Develop and implement category sourcing strategies that ensure consistent supply, timely delivery, and high-quality materials aligned with business requirements
Act as lead strategist to leverage enterprise scale and drive cost efficiencies across spend categories with a continuous improvement mindset
Achieve competitive pricing advantages through market intelligence, including domestic and international macroeconomic factors
Proactively identify and capitalize on opportunistic market conditions within assigned categories
Identify, evaluate, and execute sourcing opportunities while mitigating supply risk and ensuring supply chain stability
Serve as Supplier Relationship Manager (SRM), fostering strong partnerships across the local and global supply base
Act as the primary interface between Vibrant Ingredients and assigned suppliers
Optimize the supply base to support continuity, scalability, innovation, and long-term growth
Lead negotiations for long-term supply agreements that deliver sustainable competitive advantage
Manage contracts and master supply agreements, ensuring compliance with pricing, quality, and delivery requirements
Coordinate logistics activities with suppliers, including inland freight, ocean freight, and import/export processes when applicable
Collaborate with R&D and Quality to identify, qualify, and approve new materials, technologies, and suppliers
Ensure sourced ingredients meet all product specifications, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and customer-specific needs
Conduct supplier evaluations and drive performance improvement initiatives across the supply base
Partner cross-functionally to support evolving business needs and strategic initiatives