Sr Manager, Procurement External Manufacturing

Colgate • Piscataway, NJ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Procurement External Manufacturing leads end-to-end procurement activities for third-party contract manufacturers across an international supply chain network. The role develops sourcing and cost-planning strategies, builds supplier partnerships, evaluates potential contractors, manages commercial negotiations, and supports innovation programs tied to global growth goals. It works closely with cross-functional teams to oversee supplier performance, financial and operational processes, quality compliance, and manufacturing partnerships.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related business or technical field.
• At least 8 years of supply chain manufacturing or supply and demand planning procurement experience leading external or contract manufacturing agreements.
• Experience running Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs), with strong data analysis skills.
• Hands-on experience using SAP or a similar ERP.
• Strong cross-organizational collaboration skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and lead complex commercial negotiations.
• Data-driven decision-making mindset and experience managing financial risk and supplier performance metrics.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Business Administration or professional certification such as Certified Purchasing Manager, Certified in Planning and Inventory Management, or Project Management Professional.
• Prior CPG industry experience in contract manufacturing or third-party sourcing.
• Proficiency in data analytics and data visualization tools such as Tableau, DOMO, or Power BI, and generative AI platforms such as Gemini, to analyze procurement datasets and build actionable reports.

Responsibilities

• Co-lead cross-functional teams through end-to-end contract manufacturer selection processes (RFX), oversee supplier risk assessments, enforce regulatory compliance, and partner with Legal to finalize service agreements and NDAs.
• Manage ongoing relationships with third-party manufacturers, conduct periodic KPI reviews, ensure contractor personnel are trained and integrated with planning systems, and facilitate issue resolution.
• Partner on sourcing strategies and manufacturing feasibility assessments; conduct quarterly price validations, update SAP Info Records, establish standard costs, and coordinate with Accounting to resolve invoicing and purchase order issues.
• Champion Funding the Growth initiatives and savings reporting; drive Future Cost Planning for budgeting; co-manage capital investment approvals and amortization; and establish process improvements, such as MOQ reviews, to reduce obsolete inventory risk.
• Partner with Quality to ensure supplier adherence to tracking standards and cost implications, conduct supplier risk and financial health assessments, and schedule cost reviews and physical inventory audits with Finance.
• Coordinate with Raw & Pack material buyers, manage liabilities, support major cross-category projects for leadership, and participate in internal procurement networks and external industry benchmarking forums.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Basic life insurance and disability coverage.
• Paid parental leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days for salaried employees.
• 13 paid holidays.
• Paid sick leave adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws.
• Relocation assistance within the country.
• Salaried employees may be eligible for discretionary bonuses and profit-sharing; long-term incentives may be available for Executive-level roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior