Senior Procurement Manager, Dairy

job purpose:

The Procurement Category Manager, Dairy is a key member of the Supply Chain Team. This role will play an integral part in developing long-term milk sourcing strategies across all current and future sites. The Procurement Category Manager will be tasked with supporting the Director, Dairy Procurement to ensuring a stable, long-term supply of milk with a focus on supplier selection, relationship management and price negotiation. Along with this, the Procurement Category Manager will lead fairlife's efforts in finding dairy bi-product customers and executing bi-product agreements. In this position you will partner with internal stakeholders to support their needs and drive category performance while delivering procurement's cost of goods savings and bi-product revenue targets. This individual will support the development and implementation of critical supplier performance management programs to ensure the supply base is exceling against established key performance indicators.

responsibilities:

• Identify Opportunities and Execute Bi-Product Sales agreements for Cream and Lactose
• Manage Spot and Contract Cream and Lactose opportunities.
• Along with the Director of Milk Procurement- Plan and Organize Milk Procurement activities across fairlife
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to share forecasts and expectations with external partners to ensure effective milk planning.
• Identify risks and vulnerabilities within milk supply base and develop risk mitigation strategies to build a more resilient milk supply chain.
• Support Request for Proposal (RFP) process to ensure consistent lowest total cost of ownership.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop and maintain tools for enhancing transparency and traceability to farm-level trends in milk supply, component levels, quality performance and environmental considerations.
• Analyze current and projected dairy market conditions and identify key trends and opportunities for the business.
• Create milk market forecasts and reports to support the Commodity Risk Management team.
• Develop presentation tools to be used in monthly and quarterly commodity price risk management meetings with CEO, CFO, and other key Executive Leadership team members
• Analyze and forecast market inflation trends and work to address any price variances to budget.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to refine and optimize supplier framework for internal requirements to ensure the highest-quality-milk from farms committed to continuous improvement towards animal care.
• Develop and execute vendor agreements in close collaboration with Legal Team.
• Manage vendor relationships, track performance, and communicate performance feedback.
• Identify, support, and implement raw material cost reduction opportunities.
• Assist in the development and management of annual material cost budgets.
• Monitor, track and report on savings and key performance indicators for category.
• Assist in resolving any unforeseen problems with suppliers relating to operations, purchasing or quality/performance.

skills/qualifications required:

• Bachelor's Degree required (Preferably in Agricultural Economics, Supply Chain, or Engineering). Master's Degree a plus.
• Strong knowledge base of dairy markets, milk pricing and dairy policies
• 5+ years of Procurement Category Management experience or equivalent.
• Master in negotiation, value generation
• Ability to influence senior leadership teams at Plant level and Corporate Function level.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Quality, Planning and Animal Welfare Teams
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Strong communication skillset, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment.

position location: Chicago, IL, Goodyear, AZ, Coopersville, MI, Webster, NY.

reports to: Director, Dairy Procurement

travel requirements: 30%

exempt/nonexempt: exempt