Senior Manager, Category Management
About The Position
The Senior Manager, Category Management leads sourcing strategy and category performance across critical direct material categories, including proteins, dairy, fats, grains, starches, ingredients, and related supplies. This role is responsible for driving cost competitiveness, supply continuity, supplier performance, and procurement governance while developing procurement talent and strengthening category management capabilities across the organization. As a key business partner to Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and R&D, this leader identifies market opportunities, mitigates supply risks, delivers validated savings, and ensures procurement strategies support both short-term operational needs and long-term business objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Procurement, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive procurement, sourcing, or category management experience, including leadership responsibility.
- Demonstrated success managing direct material categories, supplier negotiations, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Experience leading category reviews, savings programs, and supplier performance management processes.
- Proven ability to develop teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Nice To Haves
- Food manufacturing or food ingredient procurement experience strongly preferred.
- Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, CSCP, or CPIM preferred.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned direct material categories.
- Lead supplier selection, negotiations, contract management, and relationship development.
- Monitor commodity markets, industry trends, and supply risks to inform sourcing decisions.
- Drive competitive sourcing initiatives and benchmarking to optimize total cost of ownership.
- Develop contingency plans to address supply disruptions, market volatility, and supplier performance issues.
- Ensure continuity of supply while balancing cost, quality, service, and innovation objectives.
- Establish and maintain category management standards, processes, and sourcing discipline.
- Lead category reviews to evaluate supplier performance, market conditions, savings opportunities, and risk exposure.
- Validate savings initiatives and ensure alignment with financial reporting requirements.
- Review and approve sourcing recommendations, supplier awards, and category strategies.
- Promote best practices in procurement governance, supplier management, and risk mitigation.
- Lead, coach, and develop Category Buyers and other procurement team members.
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability measures.
- Build category management capabilities, analytical skills, and strategic sourcing expertise across the team.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and results-oriented execution.
- Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and R&D to align sourcing strategies with business priorities.
- Support new product development through supplier and ingredient sourcing initiatives.
- Lead cross-functional efforts to address shortages, supplier issues, and business continuity risks.
- Participate in business reviews, performance monitoring, and strategic planning processes.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
