Associate Manager Category - Direct/Ingredients

Job Details:

Job Purpose / Summary

The Associate Manager, Strategic Sourcing is responsible for managing a portfolio of direct material categories while providing hands-on support to senior team members on larger, more complex sourcing initiatives. This position applies core category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier management practices, including spend and market analysis, sourcing event support, contract administration, and day-to-day supplier relationship management, to help ensure a reliable and cost-competitive direct material supply. The Associate Manager will build foundational sourcing skills while contributing directly to category strategy and supplier performance. This role also works extensively with cross-functional partners across the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage a defined portfolio of direct material categories, including day-to-day sourcing execution, purchase order support, and category performance tracking.
• Support Senior Category Managers and the Director on larger or more complex strategic sourcing initiatives, including data gathering, market research, and analysis.
• Conduct spend analysis and market intelligence research to identify cost savings opportunities, supply risks, and category trends.
• Assist in developing and executing category sourcing strategies, including supplier evaluation, RFP/RFQ preparation, and bid analysis.
• Support supplier negotiations and contract administration, ensuring terms align with cost, quality, and supply continuity objectives.
• Maintain and strengthen relationships with preferred suppliers while monitoring performance against cost, quality, delivery, and service metrics.
• Evaluate and onboard new suppliers when preferred suppliers cannot meet business needs, in accordance with the team's Preferred Supplier Policy.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support new product development and ensure Procurement is engaged early in the concept phase.
• Track and report category spend, savings, and supplier performance metrics to support leadership reporting and business reviews.
• Identify and help resolve supply disruptions, quality issues, and pricing discrepancies in partnership with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate category and supplier documentation, including contracts, pricing agreements, and the preferred supplier list.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the sourcing process by contributing ideas to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risk.

REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience: 2 + years’ experience in Procurement, Marketing or Supplier Management or a related field

Computer Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Familiarity with eProcurement Source-to-Pay tools desirable, Experience in spreadsheet, database and statistical analysis desirable, Experience in Supplier Performance & Risk Management tools desirable, Proven ability to learn new applications

Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required

Special Skills: Knowledge of supplier quality and risk management policies and regulatory compliance. Ability to network and cultivate a productive working relationship with customers and third-party vendors. Demonstrated conflict resolution skills. Ability to identify, assess and mitigate risk. Understanding of procurement governance, processes and policies. Strong analytical and interpretive skills to recognize, comprehend and assess data, complex issues and industry information. Experience in collecting, manipulating, interpreting and cleansing data.

Excellent customer service, problem solving and decision-making skills. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and assignments simultaneously.

Supervisory: Demonstrated ability to influence without positional authority

Travel: Up to [4] domestic trips per year

All professional team members are expected to demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, adhering to company policies, and validating AI-generated outputs. Individual Contributors should demonstrate the ability to integrate AI into daily work, improve efficiency through AI-enabled solutions, evaluate outputs critically, and apply professional judgment when using AI. People Leaders should demonstrate the ability to drive responsible AI adoption, enable effective use of approved solutions, identify opportunities to improve team performance through AI, and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

Yes

Work Shift:

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

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We provide our team members and their families with paid time off; 401(k) plans; affordable health, life, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; and more.

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