Sr Category Buyer
About The Position
E.A. Sween is seeking a strategic Senior Category Buyer to advance the team by developing and implementing measures that support effective execution of sales and marketing strategies for customers. The role leads category buying, sources quality materials at competitive prices to support production, and works to ensure on-time delivery. It develops category strategies that secure access to strong suppliers and industry capabilities, while monitoring economic and industry developments and communicating their implications to the organization. The Senior Category Buyer manages supplier capacity, service levels, relationships, contracts, and continuity of supply for raw materials and finished goods. The role develops supplier capabilities and performance metrics, assesses market dynamics and supply-chain risks, and coordinates with internal partners across production, planning, transportation, food safety, sales, marketing, and R&D. It also contributes to cross-functional continuous improvement and cost-saving initiatives, supports procurement resource development, and applies strategic thinking and analytical expertise to category and supplier decisions. The position is based at the company’s Eden Prairie, Minnesota office, with one work-from-home day per week. The work is generally office- and desk-based, involving a computer and telephone. Travel is 20%–30% of the year, and occasional extra hours, evenings, or weekends may be necessary.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with a strong mathematics, statistics, or business background.
- Advanced analytical skills.
- Interpersonal effectiveness and negotiation skills under pressure.
- At least 5 years of diverse Procurement and Supply Chain experience.
- Advanced Excel skills.
- Ability to analyze and anticipate changes in market conditions and implement and effectively use appropriate tools.
- Ability to understand industry dynamics and work with ambiguity.
- Ability to think strategically 3–5 years ahead.
- Ability to work occasional extra hours, evenings, and weekends if necessary.
Responsibilities
- Manage industry partner relationships to establish a “customer of choice” profile.
- Monitor macroeconomic and microeconomic trends and inform the organization of implications and potential execution choices.
- Lead category buying by sourcing quality materials at competitive prices to support plant production and ensure on-time delivery.
- Coordinate with internal partners to support potential innovation or new tools.
- Create category strategies that provide access to suitable suppliers and industry capabilities.
- Ensure adequate supplier capacity and customer service levels for raw materials supplied to production facilities.
- Ensure adequate service levels for in-network raw materials and finished goods.
- Maintain supplier relationships and manage supplier contracts.
- Monitor market metrics and inform internal partners of industry dynamics that could affect organizational effectiveness.
- Establish service-level agreements and contracts for appropriate raw materials.
- Develop strategies to evolve supplier capabilities in response to customer demand, service, cost, and industry dynamics.
- Develop and manage key performance indicators for controls including on-time shipping, cost, throughput, capacity, yield loss, and labor.
- Develop supplier relationship management practices that maintain good standing and support a “Customer of Choice” position.
- Monitor industry trends, including demographic and industry changes, emerging supply-chain risks, and consumer interests.
- Develop and manage continuity of supply for raw materials.
- Establish a regular process for using external expertise to analyze and assess market dynamics, including materials and underlying commodities; form a perspective with the broader team and communicate regularly with internal stakeholders.
- Work cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Transportation, Food Safety, Sales, Marketing, R&D, and other groups to support sales and marketing efforts.
- Participate in cross-functional continuous-improvement initiatives that drive end-to-end cost savings.
- Implement and manage key metrics, collaborate with peers on goal setting, and support the leadership and development of procurement resources.
- Work on multiple projects at a time and travel 20%–30% of the year.
Benefits
- Incentive bonus opportunity up to 5% of annual salary, prorated based on the final start date.
- One day per week working from home.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
