Senior Manager, Purchasing

Smithfield Foods • Smithfield, VA

8h

About The Position

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. The Senior Manager of Purchasing leads our MRO Data Analytics team and serves as the key owner of all data integrity efforts related to maintenance, repair, and operational supply information within SAP. This role oversees the ongoing maintenance, updates, and quality assurance of item descriptions—including personal protective equipment, maintenance and repair materials, operating supplies, and other essential categories. In addition to driving data accuracy, this leader helps shape and implement policies, procedures, and strategic objectives for the procurement of both inventory and non‑inventory items. The Senior Manager proactively identifies opportunities to enhance purchasing processes, strengthen cost management, and resolve operational challenges—ensuring efficient, reliable, and cost‑effective procurement across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in business, food science, packaging, agri-business, economics, engineering, supply chain or related discipline and 8+ years’ relevant experience in a multiple facility organization; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required.
• SAP experience required.
• Understanding of production planning and materials requirements planning (MRP).
• Ability to work through complex, unstructured problems. Strong critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal formats. Strong teamwork, adaptability, and organizational planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive, respectful, and collaborative working relationships.
• Ability to travel up to 10% to manufacturing plants.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to perform effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment
• Team‑oriented approach with a focus on creating a positive work environment

Responsibilities

• MRO Data Integrity & Master Data Collaboration Oversee MRO material data cleansing, updates, and alignment with Smithfield’s MDM strategy. Partner with the Master Data team to define shared responsibilities and ensure consistent deployment of data standards.
• Reporting, Analytics & Policy Compliance Work with Finance to extract detailed SAP spend data and build dashboards. Collaborate with IT and Data Analytics to ensure systems and reporting support procurement policy compliance.
• Process, Technology & Continuous Improvement Lead initiatives that enhance procurement processes, tools, and business adoption. Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve operational efficiency.
• Vendor & Stakeholder Relationship Management Develop strong relationships with business leaders to understand vendor needs and leverage purchasing power. Drive vendor rationalization efforts, strengthening supplier relationships and improving cost, service, and SKU consolidation.
• Cost Savings & Plant Support Lead and support cost‑saving initiatives that impact plant operations and overall purchasing performance.
• Leadership Drives a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching.

What This Job Offers

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