What are the responsibilities and job description for the Procurement Category Manager position at Congo Brands?
Our Company:
Congo Brands is at the epicenter of where consumer demand meets product development. Through brand partnerships with lead influencers, we are afforded an inside look at what consumers truly desire. Congo Brands is a health and wellness brand that sells supplements, fitness snacks, hydration drinks, energy drinks, and more through e-commerce and retail partnerships. Congo Brands houses some of the world’s most noted brands including Alani Nu, Prime Hydration, and 3D Energy. Congo Brands is on pace to become one of the world’s most noted consumer product companies, with revenue growth increasing exponentially year over year. Congo Brand’s goal is to be the go-to ‘Better for You Brand’ for everything from ready-to-drink beverages, snacks, supplements and more.
The Role:
The Procurement Category Manager will be responsible for strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management, innovation and collaboration management, cost and risk management, and quality assurance. The Procurement Category Manager will develop and execute strategic sourcing plans, work with co-manufacturing teams, cultivate strong relationships with suppliers, spearhead innovation initiatives to drive creative solutions, and proactively identify risks in the supply chain. The Procurement Category Manager will focus on developing and maintaining strong supplier relationships as well as providing broad based perspective on specific raw material categories, sharing knowledge about marketplace environments, industry trends and supplier capabilities.
This role sits on-site at our Louisville, KY headquarters.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute strategic sourcing plans to ensure cost-effective and efficient procurement of raw materials, packaging, and other goods necessary to produce consumer-packaged goods.
- Work with co-manufacturing teams to identify and qualify suppliers, negotiate contracts, and establish long-term relationships with key vendors.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with suppliers by working collaboratively and conducting regular performance reviews.
- Spearhead innovation initiatives to drive creative thinking and breakthrough solutions across packaging, ingredients and flavors, and indirect materials categories.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for disruptive innovation.
- Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies to ensure a cutting-edge approach to problem-solving.
- Facilitate cross-functional workshops and brainstorming sessions to harness collective intelligence.
- Implement cost reduction initiatives while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Monitor market trends, assess supplier capabilities, and identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising quality or reliability.
- Proactively identify potential risks in the supply chain and develop contingency plans to mitigate.
- Collaborate with the quality assurance team to ensure that procured materials meet or exceed quality standards.
Key Skills and Experience Preferred:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field. Advanced degree or professional certification (e.g., CSCP, CPSM) is a plus.
- 3-5 years’ experience as a Procurement Manager in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry.
- Strong negotiation skills and ability to build and maintain positive supplier relationships.
- Excellent understanding of procurement processes, strategic sourcing, and cost management.
- Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to travel as needed and perform other duties as required.
- Has a demonstrated passion that aligns with the core values of Congo Brands.
- Experience with NetSuite a plus.
Benefits & Perks:
- Competitive Salary
- Health/Vision/Dental Benefits
- 15 days of PTO 8 paid holidays
- 6 weeks paid parental leave
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- Monthly cell phone stipend
- AND SO MUCH MORE!
#PRIME
Congo Brands, LLC. Is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other classification protected by Federal, state, or local law.
