Sr Category Buyer

E.A. Sween Company•Eden Prairie, MN

10d•$66,097 - $99,200•Hybrid

About The Position

E.A. Sween is seeking a strategic Senior Category Buyer to advance the team through thoughtful vision and implementation, ensuring effective execution of sales and marketing strategies for customers. The role manages supplier and industry relationships, monitors economic and market trends, leads sourcing initiatives, and develops category strategies to secure quality materials at competitive prices and support production and organizational goals. The position is primarily onsite at the Eden Prairie, Minnesota office, with one work-from-home day.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with a strong mathematics, statistics, or business background.
Advanced analytical skills.
Interpersonal effectiveness and negotiation skills under pressure.
At least 5 years of diverse Procurement and Supply Chain experience.
Advanced Excel skills.
Ability to analyze and anticipate changes in market conditions, implement appropriate tools, and use them effectively.

Responsibilities

Manage industry partner relationships to maintain a “customer of choice” profile.
Monitor macroeconomic and microeconomic trends and advise the organization on their implications and potential execution choices.
Lead buying initiatives by sourcing quality materials at competitive prices to support plant production and ensure on-time delivery.
Coordinate with internal partners to support potential innovation and new tools.
Create category strategies that provide access to suitable suppliers and industry capabilities.
Ensure adequate supplier capacity and customer service levels for raw materials at production facilities.
Ensure adequate service levels for in-network raw materials and finished goods.
Manage supplier relationships and contracts appropriately.
Track market metrics and inform internal partners of industry dynamics that could affect organizational effectiveness.
Establish service-level agreements and contracts for appropriate raw materials.
Develop strategies to evolve supplier capabilities in response to customer demand, service, cost, and industry dynamics.
Develop and manage key performance indicators for controls, including on-time shipping, cost, throughput, capacity, yield loss, and labor.
Develop supplier relationship management practices to maintain good standing and a “customer of choice” relationship.
Monitor industry trends, demographic changes, emerging supply-chain risks, and consumer interests.
Develop and manage continuity of supply for raw materials.
Establish a regular process for using external expertise to assess market dynamics, including materials and underlying commodities; develop a perspective with the broader team and communicate regularly with key internal stakeholders.
Work cross-functionally with Production, Planning, Transportation, Food Safety, Sales, Marketing, R&D, and other teams to support sales and marketing efforts.
Participate in cross-functional continuous-improvement initiatives that generate end-to-end cost savings.
Implement and manage key metrics, collaborate with peers on goal setting, and contribute to the leadership and development of procurement resources.