Procurement Category Lead

Position Objective:

• Lead and/or support local, regional, and global procurement activities including but not limited to formal category management (sourcing & supplier management), savings and risk management initiatives, NPD and ESG (Environment-Social-Governance) initiatives.
• Complete and accurately maintain procurement reports and documents.

Key Result Areas:

Performance Standards

Core Values

Continuously exhibit and set the example for others in display of Company values: Customer Centric, Ambitious, Proactive, Innovative, Collaborative and Accountable.

Procurement

• Work with Procurement team to achieve annual cost savings targets.
• Manage all aspects of sourcing for assigned categories, including:
  • Lead and facilitate sourcing initiatives.
  • Lead strategic commercial negotiations utilizing product appropriate bid technology (e.g. e-RFX, e-auctions)
  • Manage entire post-bid process, ensuring all agreements adhere to all internal ABM and ABF approval and legal requirements.
• Lead and/or support risk management initiatives through identification and approval of alternate suppliers.
• Where necessary, assist plant buyers with expedition of supplier purchase orders.
• Gather, maintain and provide regular market analysis, benchmark data and supplier evaluation of assigned categories in support of sales initiatives.
• In coordination with the logistics team, analyze current inbound freight spend and identify and implement any savings opportunities.
• Provide support for regional and global ABF and AB Mauri procurement initiatives. 
• Actively seek to minimize working capital through extended payment terms, supplier inventory programs and analysis of economic order quantities.
• Coordinate communication and implementation of Marketing-initiated artwork changes with supplier base. 
• Analyze and evaluate potential supplier ESG risk for assigned categories.  Implement supplier corrective actions, as deemed necessary.

A/P & Finance

• Approve invoices, investigate and resolve price discrepancies.
• Assist in preparation of annual budgets and monthly reforecasts.
• Coordinate creation and accurate maintenance of vendor price records and contracts within ERP.

Quality/Service

• In cooperation with Quality Assurance, provide escalation of supplier responses to customer complaints and supplier nonconformance issues. 
• In cooperation with Quality assurance, support initial supplier approval process and assist in reapproval process.
• Ensure procurement documents in document library are properly maintained and current.
• In cooperation with plants and/or Technical department, coordinate plant trials.  Ensure trials are documented properly in the trial database.
• Provide support and input necessary for completion of annual supplier assessments.
• Provide internal customers and external suppliers with requested data in a timely manner.

Reporting

• Create, accurately maintain, or provide timely inputs to periodic procurement reporting mechanisms and monthly KPI tracking. 
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Human Resources

• Comply with HR policies and procedures.
• Comply with relevant employment laws.

Other

• Other duties as assigned.

A COMBINATION OF the listed skills and knowledge is preferred

• Strong PC skills (particularly Outlook, Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Edge, Teams)
• Proficiency in E-procurement system, preferably Scanmarket, preferred.
• Experience with formal Category Management a plus
• Experience with Infor/LX a plus
•  Minimum 5 years procurement experience in food industry.
• Bachelor’s degree, or relevant procurement work experience.
• High degree of personal integrity and ethics.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.  Ability to think outside of the box and demonstrate creativity.
• Independent, self-motivated and team oriented.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with a solutions-oriented approach.
• Highly adaptive with ability to prioritize multiple projects. 
• Strong organizational skills required.
• Proactive, customer-centric attitude required.