Sourcing Manager, Raw Ingredients

Kinder's•Walnut Creek, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As Sourcing Manager, Raw Ingredients, you will lead Kinder’s strategy and operations related to sourcing and managing raw materials across our growing product portfolio. Your work will directly impact our ability to deliver high-quality, sustainably packaged products on time and at optimal cost. By developing strong supplier partnerships, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving process efficiencies, you will help Kinder’s scale its impact while staying true to our values.

Requirements

Proven expertise in raw material sourcing (sugar, salt, starch, etc), inventory planning and supply chain operations, especially within the food or consumer goods industry.
Strategic thinking combined with hands-on execution to manage both the big picture and the day-to-day.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external partners.
Commitment to Kinder’s values of ownership, agility, collaboration, and doing the right thing, especially when working with supplier partners and internal stakeholders.
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s preferred.
5–7+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management, with a focus on raw materials like sugar, salt & starch.
Deep knowledge of raw materials, manufacturing technologies, and sustainability trends.
Strong negotiation skills and experience managing vendor relationships.
Familiarity with quality control systems and food industry regulatory requirements.
Proficient in supply chain planning tools and ERP systems.
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and organizational skills.
Results-driven and take ownership of responsibilities from start to finish.
Operate with a high level of integrity, ensuring transparency in supplier and internal relationships.
Thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment and are motivated to continuously improve.
Bring a collaborative spirit, welcoming input from others to solve complex challenges.
Have a sustainability mindset and seek ways to minimize environmental impact through your work.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive sourcing strategy for raw materials (salt, sugar, etc) aligned with Kinder’s business objectives.
Identify and evaluate new suppliers, building a robust network of partners that can scale with Kinder’s growth.
Stay current on market trends, materials innovation, and best practices to inform sourcing decisions.
Build and maintain strong supplier relationships with clear communication and mutual accountability.
Negotiate contracts and terms with a focus on cost efficiency, quality, reliability, and delivery performance.
Conduct regular supplier performance evaluations and manage issue resolution when needed.
Oversee end-to-end supply chain activities for raw materials—from forecasting and demand planning to inventory and logistics coordination.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Product, and Finance to align on material needs and timing.
Continuously seek opportunities to streamline processes and reduce supply chain risk.
Establish raw ingredient specifications, in conjunction with R&D to ensure materials meet Kinder’s standards and relevant food industry regulations.
Lead quality control initiatives to verify the consistency and integrity of raw materials.
Monitor for regulatory changes and ensure ongoing compliance across all raw material sources.
Analyze packaging cost structures and develop strategies to reduce spend without compromising quality.
Lead strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations to drive cost savings.
Identify and implement process improvements that contribute to overall supply chain efficiency.