Senior Procurement Manager

Russell Stover • Kansas City, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Russell Stover is a leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates with a legacy spanning over 100 years. We are seeking a Sr. Procurement Manager, Raw Materials and Packaging, to design and implement strategic sourcing strategies for a diverse portfolio of raw materials and packaging. This leadership role requires a 'player-coach' approach, balancing hands-on execution with team development. You will be a key partner to BU leadership, including Operations, FSQA, Finance, R&D, and Marketing, and will collaborate with the Vice President of Procurement and other senior executives. The primary focus will be on achieving savings targets while maintaining quality, timeliness, safety, and customer satisfaction, ultimately driving financial performance and growth.

Requirements

• Minimum 10+ years of progressively responsible management experience in a complex food-manufacturing (preferred) environment.
• Developing and executing multi-site strategic sourcing initiatives with demonstrated success managing direct spending.
• Previous people management experience a must.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.
• Purchasing concepts and techniques.
• Food processing concepts, principles and practices.
• Strategic sourcing and category management concepts and best practices.
• Contracting and commercial legal practices, laws, regulations, etc.
• Strategic planning and forecasting concepts and approaches.
• Project management concepts and techniques.
• Budgetary concepts and procedures.
• Drive collaboration within the company.
• Develop and implement successful sourcing strategies.
• Sophisticated, multi-year contract negotiations.
• Contract management systems.
• Achieve targeted cost savings, safety, quality results.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to the highest-level management, customers, and other representatives of external organizations.
• Use of various PC-based word-processing, spreadsheet, analytical programs.
• Work effectively in a general business environment, with a focus on high levels of quality and customer service.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Finance or a related area.

Responsibilities

• Enhance visibility into spend, market dynamics, and risk exposure.
• Navigate commodity volatility, including hedge strategy across key raw material markets (Chocolate, Sugar, Dairy, and other raw materials).
• Partner closely with the VP of Procurement and CFO.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategic sourcing practices.
• Achieve optimal savings, quality standards, and service levels, as well as commercialization of new products.
• Gain advantage on spend consolidation, specification standardization, and other procurement strategies as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain external high-level business relationships, including key supplier relationships, participation in relevant and regular meetings, conferences with key suppliers, customers, and other relevant activities to ensure constructive supplier and customer relationships and the maintenance of the Company’s continued good standing with existing and prospective suppliers and customers.
• Develop comprehensive engagement and communication strategy to foster enthusiastic participation from functions across the company in broad-based sourcing initiatives and centralized category management of identified spend categories.
• Provide high-level procurement support to regional operations when requested by Vice President of Procurement.
• Actively contribute to the overall strategic direction of the procurement organization to support the projected growth, profitability and customer service goals for the nearer- and longer-term market challenges and opportunities.
• Disseminate information and forecasts regarding pricing trends and assured supply issues to sales, operations management and, where appropriate, customer’s purchasing teams with timely and accurate information for effective decision-making.
• Attract, develop, and retain top procurement talent with a keen eye on succession planning within the team.
• Guide trading strategy, pricing, and supply continuity in a fast-moving market.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards.
• Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives.
• Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non-conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities.
• Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

Benefits

• Equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

What This Job Offers

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