This role is 100% on-site in our Carmel, IN office.

SUMMARY

The Strategic Sourcing Manager leads the development and implementation of category strategy for direct material packaging aligned with stakeholder and business needs, driving overall value for Heartland Food Products Group. Accountable to deliver the Annual Operating Plan target, the Strategic Sourcing Manager builds and executes negotiation plans to leverage volume and ensure optimal value. Responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing relationships with key suppliers, the strategic Sourcing Manager drives value, reduces cost with an entrepreneurial mindset that ensures a reliable supply chain.

STRATEGIC SOURCING AT HEARTLAND FOOD PRODUCTS GROUP

Heartland Food Products Group is a dynamic, fast-growing organization committed to making a positive impact in the world. We are passionate about building brands and foster a results-driven culture that provides opportunities to rapidly learn and develop your career. Heartland Food Products Group makes SPLENDA® Brand Sweeteners, as well as many other brands and product lines. Heartland’s Strategic sourcing team fuels Heartland’s growth by cultivating strategic alliances with our manufacturing team and key supply partners, while delivering exceptional service, premium quality, and market-leading competitively priced solutions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Improve Sourcing Management/Process

• Enable new innovative/entrepreneurial processes and tools to drive efficiencies in communication and tracking to drive seamless sourcing management.

Strategy Development & Execution

• Develop and implement category strategies, utilizing strategic sourcing processes and tools.
• Lead market discovery activities, utilizing support of resource analyst team, to maintain a strong understanding of potential suppliers within a category, key capabilities, and competitive level.
• Build & execute negotiation strategy which may include competitive bid events or other sourcing and negotiation tools.
• Collaborate with organizational stakeholders and leadership to ensure alignment and buy-in of category and negotiation strategy next steps.
• Adjust strategies in real time to ensure an accurate view in team cloud-based reporting tools.

Savings Delivery & Annual Operating Plan Budget

• Summarize and present negotiation status and results to leadership and key internal stakeholders.
• Ensure negotiated pricing loaded into Heartland’s ERP system to support ordering activities.
• Prepare and present Annual Operating Plan budget for responsible categories.
• Ensure accurate savings project outlook and results delivered to Finance.
• Maintain project and negotiation status updates in real time to ensure an accurate view in team cloud-based reporting tools.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Prepare and review supplier scorecards, review with suppliers in Quarterly Business Review meetings to ensure accountability for overall Quality, Delivery and Financial performance.
• Resolve material supply gaps and quality issues as escalated by the buying team.
• Drive risk analysis and mitigation for all material categories including capacity analysis, business continuity planning, financial risk review.
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures, including ethical and legal guidelines.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Finance, Engineering or a related field.
• 5 years’ relevant experience in a Sourcing role, preferably with packaging category experience.

Attributes of the Most Successful Candidates

• An effective negotiator and influencer with demonstrated examples working with internal customers and external suppliers/partners.
• Technically savvy, leverages tools such as team cloud-based reporting and dashboard tools to share relevant category status and updates.
• Focused on building and maintaining collaborative relationships with suppliers. Anticipates and mitigates service, quality, and financial market changes.
• Collaborative and team oriented with advanced interpersonal skills. Operates with high energy and passion for the company mission and the Sourcing function.
• A champion of industry knowledge. With firsthand knowledge of key industry players and a significant understanding of Strategic Sourcing industry best practices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and interact with computers, telephone and other electronic media
• Must possess visual acuity to document company records
• Must be able to work extended hours, such as daily overtime and an occasional weekend