Sourcing Manager - Packaging Materials

At Russell Stover, not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar-free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company-owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy!

A day in the life…

As the Sourcing Manager for Packaging Materials, you'll lead efforts to secure high-quality packaging solutions such as candy trays, bags, wrappers, tins and other specialty packaging materials. You'll develop sourcing strategies, negotiate contracts, and manage supplier relationships to ensure uninterrupted supply while optimizing costs and quality. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams such as R&D, Marketing, and Operations, you'll anticipate market trends, mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

What you will be doing…

Develop and Execute Sourcing Strategies

• Formulate comprehensive sourcing strategies to secure a reliable and cost-effective supply of packaging materials primarily focus on plastics and other critical packaging components crucial for chocolate production—tailor strategies to align with company objectives, market dynamics, and quality standards.

Supplier Management and Negotiation

• Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers while fostering solid relationships built on trust and collaboration.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms to ensure favorable agreements that balance cost optimization with quality assurance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including R&D, Marketing, Operations, and Quality Assurance, to align sourcing activities with production schedules, quality requirements, and inventory management.

Risk Management and Market Analysis

 

• Monitor market trends, supplier performance, and geopolitical developments to anticipate potential risks and disruptions. Implement risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans to ensure uninterrupted supply chain operations.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive initiatives to optimize sourcing processes, reduce costs, improve quality, and enhance supplier performance.
• Leverage data analytics and performance metrics to identify process enhancement and innovation opportunities.

Compliance and Sustainability

• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, industry standards, and company policies related to sourcing, quality, and sustainability—champion ethical sourcing practices and initiatives to enhance the company's reputation and corporate responsibility efforts.

If visiting our manufacturing plants, you will be expected to:

• 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 contributes to the continuous improvement of the company’s Food Safety Culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role.

 

This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

 

Do you have what it takes?

(Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, or a related field. Additional experience and qualifications will be considered.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing sourcing strategies that deliver cost savings, improve quality, and mitigate supply chain risks
• Solid understanding of raw material markets, industry trends, and supply chain dynamics
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of analyzing data and deriving actionable insights to drive informed decision-making.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite and ERP systems
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation.

Do you stand above the rest?

(Preferred Qualifications)

• A master's degree
• Experience within the food or confectionery industry.
• Experience with international sourcing, primarily Southeast Asia / China
• Experience with sourcing software/tools.
• Experience in plastic & flexible packaging
• Experience working cross- functionally with teams in R&D, Marketing, QA, and Operations

At Russell Stover Chocolates, we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace.

We provide 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.

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Make Happy. Work Happy.