Sourcing Manager

Beech-Nut Nutrition Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of privately held, Switzerland based food manufacturing company Hero Group. Beech-Nut is currently the second largest shareholder in the baby food category. Our mission is to provide just honest, real, great-tasting food that’s as close to homemade as possible. Because everybody deserves real food. Especially babies.

The Sourcing Manager, reporting to the Strategic Sourcing Director, is responsible for the development and management of all aspects of the sourcing of all Ingredients (Fruit, Vegetables and other Ingredients) in different forms for both internal and external manufacturing sites. The Sourcing Manager will also be responsible for the development and implementation of long term sourcing strategies and plans to meet the company’s business growth, through both market and need analysis, cost analysis, risk mitigation/management and supplier relationship management. The incumbent will have a total spend accountability of ~$30M.

Principle Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

• Develop and implement the 3-year Strategy for specific key ingredients delivering measurable positive impact on the bottom line and top line.
• Develop expertise in Fresh Sourcing and contract Farming
• Develop a scorecard and drive supplier performance to meet or exceed annual goals.
• Develop commodity expertise and maintain understanding of market dynamics to identify both risk and opportunity.
• Lead the Risk mitigation plan for sensitive items to insure the competitive and sustainable supply.
• Evaluate market trends and key cost drivers to identify and implement cost savings opportunities.
• Analyze complex supplier proposals and use decision-making tools and models, including financial and non-financial criteria, to facilitate award recommendations.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and contracts to align with corporate strategies.
• Manage overall supplier relationships including supplier performance, capability development, cost and quality improvements.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams consisting of R&D/Corporate Quality, Engineering, Plant Operations and Marketing to define product requirements to meet overall business objectives.
• Accountability for financial KPIs (PPV, standard price, market analysis, budgeting and estimates).

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Direct Reports: Sourcing Buyer - Fruit and Vegetable and Associate Buyer - Ingredients

Education/Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in direct materials Strategic Sourcing, preferably in food industry
• 3+ years of experience in Fruit and Vegetable Sourcing (purees, IQF, fresh
• BS in Finance, Business, or Supply Chain (Purchasing or Operations related field)
• Agronomist background with focus on Organics cultivation

Preferred Certifications:

• Experience with lean or six sigma methodologies a plus

Preferred Systems:

• Solid computer skills
• SAP experience highly valued

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• High degree of competence in quickly developing commodity expertise.
• Must be organized and able to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to successfully manage time-sensitive projects.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and the flexibility to adjust to demands of the job.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Result and Action orientated – comfortable setting and delivering against bold, stretch targets
• Tenacious work ethic, doing “whatever it takes” with resolve, urgency and integrity to get the job done
• Strong communication skills at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to organize information and make presentations to all levels of the organization.
• Ability to clearly communicate to others both verbally and in writing.
• Influence decisions using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Skilled in market / supplier analysis.
• Strong sense of responsibility and ownership of projects.
• Proven Project Management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead cross-functional teams.
• Experience in driving Innovation from the outside