Category Manager jobs in California

Description

Location: Woodland, CA

Reports To: VP of Procurement

 I - Job Purpose and Summary:

Lead sourcing category strategy development for multiple categories and spend. Use innovative thinking and negotiation skills to support top line growth as well as optimizing existing business while maximizing value to PGP.

1. Category Strategy and execution 
2. Focus on cost reduction, quality and value
3. Top Line growth 
4. Supplier relationship management 
5. Sustainability and responsible sourcing  

The primary duties involve the development and execution of category strategies for key major categories for PGP. This includes sourcing & management of supply of rice ingredients and vegetable proteins in support of the ongoing business at both sites. The role is also required to develop the key work processes to support of the supply of these ingredients.

  II - Key Accountabilities:

• HSE: Always Promote a safe work environment through the adherence to all PGPI’s Health & Safety and Environmental policies and procedures as well as to all relevant California OSHA regulations in order to achieve ZERO workplace incidents and injuries.
• Developing category strategic plans, annual sourcing plans and working with the purchasing coordinators (and ABF resources where appropriate) to execute sourcing and negotiation for these categories to ensure supply and continuous improvement in cost, quality and value. Sourcing plans include identifying and developing secondary supply options where needed and developing appropriate risk mitigation strategies.
• Work with leadership from Procurement, Operations, Finance, and Sales where needed to develop a contracting strategy and execute contracts for supply in support of customer contracts and business requirements. Initiate new supplier approval for ongoing ingredients and secondary sources with QA R&C, NPD and the Purchasing team.
• Lead sourcing teams to manage supply and demand on both short term and long-term horizons.
• Manage ongoing safety stock and master data for these categories in conjunction with market and operational changes to achieve OTIF and working capital goals.
• Lead the investigation with the purchasing team and suppliers on material outages and issues to identify root causes and implement corrective actions for the direct issue and to prevent future issues.
• Monitor market conditions and provide market updates to leadership, sales team, and customers.
• Support improvement in Sustainable Procurement internally with the purchasing team, and externally with suppliers and customers.
• Quickly develop a good understanding of the existing Microsoft Dynamics AX System and the ability to interpret the data appropriately. Work with resources in the business to develop reports to track and manage these key categories.
• Negotiating prices, payment terms, and all contract terms with rice and vegetable protein suppliers to ensure that the best value for the business is met. Manage and maintain strong supplier relationships including sharing performance data and monitoring contract status.
• Working closely with the Purchasing team and QA R&C team to ensure regulatory requirements are met for ingredients and suppliers.
• Partnering with our R&D function to clearly identify functional and other requirements of current ingredients and securing material samples and documentation from alternate suppliers for evaluation and potential trials for new ingredients and/or new suppliers.
• Communicating effectively and as appropriate with all internal departments to ensure that information is made available and potential issues are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner. Train internal employees on technical and commercial aspects of the rice and vegetable protein categories.

Requirements

  III - Internal and External Contacts:

Internal: Sales and Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Finance

External: suppliers

  IV - Job Requirements (Required and Preferred):

Education: A bachelor’s degree, preferably in an engineering, supply chain or business field.

Related Experience: 5 to 7 years’ experience in Procurement sourcing and management preferably in the Food Industry. Experience and understanding of the key drivers of the food industry (production, ingredients, CPG, etc.). Experience in Category Management methodology. Experience in strategic sourcing and negotiating with both domestic and international suppliers.

Competencies: Good communication skills with the ability to develop professional and positive relationships with suppliers, internal Customers, and business leadership. A strong team focus, providing proactive support and assistance to colleagues. A positive continual improvement mentality, challenging the norm and seeking new and more cost-effective means of servicing the business. Ability to effectively cope with change, volatility, risk and uncertainty and able to make decisions and execute strategies at times with incomplete data.

Technical Skills: Skills in using forecasting tools to identify future requirements. Ability to learn and use ERP systems and E-sourcing tools to identify best value sources of supply for the organization. Good mathematical skills for accurate and timely evaluation and use of data. Agile project management experience.

Language(s): Fluency in English - required; Fluency in Spanish - preferred.

Other Qualifications: A C.P.M or CPSM certification from the Institute for Supply Management preferred.

   V - Work/Employment Conditions and Other Requirements:

Work Environment: The role is largely office based, with frequent interactions with colleagues both in the office and factory environment. 

Physical and Sensory Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands and reach with hands and arms overhead and grip; climb stairs. The employee must occasionally lift or move products and supplies, up to 55 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.  

Position Type and Working Schedule: RFT - Regular Full Time, working schedule based on business needs (office hours).

Travel Requirements: Ability to travel to professional events, training and supplier locations as needed, estimated to be 20-30%.

  VI - Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.