North America Category Manager, OPEX & CAPEX

IFF • New Century, KS

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Are you ready to elevate procurement excellence and shape the future of operational reliability and capital execution across North America? IFF is a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences. We deliver sustainable innovations that elevate everyday products. Food Ingredients: Innovating improved nutritional profiles, better taste and texture, and greater cost efficiency to meet the needs of global food and beverage manufacturers. The role is based in New Century, KS (hybrid). Be part of a strategic, collaborative, and solutions-oriented team where together we can achieve greatness and make a real impact. Your potential is our inspiration. Where You’ll Make a Difference Develop and own the North America category strategy for Operating Expenditures (OPEX), including Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO), and Capital Expenditures (CAPEX). Create multi-year category roadmaps aligned with site needs, operational priorities, and business objectives. Lead sourcing events, competitive bids, and complex negotiations for equipment, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contracted services, and engineering partners. Identify and deliver year-over-year cost savings, total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements, and working capital benefits. Standardize critical spare parts, preferred supplier programs, and service delivery models across manufacturing sites. Oversee Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management (EPCM) partners to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective CAPEX project execution. Support project planning and procurement activities for construction services, equipment selection, installation, and commissioning. Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Reliability, Maintenance, and Facility teams to identify efficiency, reliability, and cost-reduction opportunities. Build and manage strategic supplier portfolios while ensuring robust supplier performance, risk mitigation, and compliance with safety and quality standards.

Requirements

• 8–12+ years of experience in procurement or strategic sourcing.
• Proven expertise in MRO procurement, including critical spares, maintenance services, industrial supplies, and OEM management.
• Strong experience in CAPEX procurement, including equipment purchasing, EPC/EPCM models, utilities, installation, and commissioning.
• Demonstrated success developing category strategies, negotiating service contracts, and managing complex supplier relationships.
• Experience partnering closely with Operations, Engineering, and Maintenance within manufacturing environments.
• Ability to interpret asset management concepts, reliability principles, and facility operations.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate supplier risk, performance metrics, and value creation opportunities.
• Excellent stakeholder management across plant, regional, and global functions.

Nice To Haves

• Experience improving operational reliability or leading cross-functional optimization initiatives.
• Strong capability in contract strategy, including warranties, service-level agreements (SLAs), and milestone-based payment structures.
• A proactive, resourceful, and continuous-improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the North America category strategy for Operating Expenditures (OPEX), including Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO), and Capital Expenditures (CAPEX).
• Create multi-year category roadmaps aligned with site needs, operational priorities, and business objectives.
• Lead sourcing events, competitive bids, and complex negotiations for equipment, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), contracted services, and engineering partners.
• Identify and deliver year-over-year cost savings, total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements, and working capital benefits.
• Standardize critical spare parts, preferred supplier programs, and service delivery models across manufacturing sites.
• Oversee Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management (EPCM) partners to ensure timely, compliant, and cost-effective CAPEX project execution.
• Support project planning and procurement activities for construction services, equipment selection, installation, and commissioning.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Engineering, Reliability, Maintenance, and Facility teams to identify efficiency, reliability, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Build and manage strategic supplier portfolios while ensuring robust supplier performance, risk mitigation, and compliance with safety and quality standards.

Benefits

• Hybrid work model supporting flexibility and work–life balance.
• Opportunities to lead strategic sourcing initiatives with real operational impact.
• A highly collaborative environment within a global procurement community.
• A purpose-driven culture that values innovation and sustainability.
• We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy.
• At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed