Procurement Manager

Reporting to the Senior Director, Finance, IT & Purchasing, this role oversees the entire procurement process and leads a purchasing team ensuring timely sourcing of materials for a seamless supply chain, establishing strategies to optimize cost, supply security and service in the short and long term.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Supply Planning

• Actively participate in Stages and Gates [process to manage new product or packaging introductions] meetings to input on lead times, advise on existing ingredients and act as a decision maker in Gate Review.
• Collaborate with suppliers to design packaging in conjunction with Customer/Sales Department and Engineering.
• Lead the material planning process, managing inventory on hand coverage and future purchase needs to support production schedule, implementing best in practice processes to report status of components to production planner.
• Monitor inventory levels and ensure timely delivery of materials to meet project deadlines.
• Key point of contact to resolve materials supply issues that arise with Planning and Operations teams to mitigate impact to production or order fill rate and to support overall business strategies and operations.
• Recommend and lead initiatives to improve and integrate processes, providing end-to-end visibility of materials supply and procurement cycle times, increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Supplier research, negotiation, and contract management

• Identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on factors like price, quality, reliability, environmental impact, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility.
• Negotiate and execute commodity contracts of various commodities (oil, sugar etc..) based on production requirements.
• Negotiate terms of purchase, from price to quantities needed, delivery timelines and logistics to payment terms.
• Monitor supplier performance.
• Make regular visits to vendors to maintain and improve relationships and to assess their facilities.
• Investigate and implement approved cost reduction opportunities. These initiatives would include but not be limited to the consolidation of suppliers and competitive quotations for alternate suppliers.
• Responsible of overall contract management compliance process

Purchase Orders management

• Oversee the purchase of all raw material and packaging materials, ensuring timely and cost-effective acquisition including but not limited to glass, plastic and metal containers, plastic and metal closures, flexible packaging web and corrugated cartons.
• Responsible of Supply Pricing Lists and Vendor Pricing records in the ERP and oversee purchasing material master data accuracy at SKU level.
• Monitor open Purchase Orders, from issuance to goods receipt and complete closure of the PO in the ERP.
• Coordinate with the Quality and Sales department on packaging quality issues and develop action plans to overcome the issues effectively and quickly.
• Oversee purchases freight costs, reviewing and approving invoices with charges from suppliers and/or third party carriers.
• Responsible for custom/border clearance compliance and review and approval of invoices.
• Monitor freight in costs and identify opportunities for cost reductions.
• Track and communicate total cost of materials, including freight and custom to finance and project managers.
• Timely communication of changes in prices.
• Work closely with Finance to project future cash flow needs related to purchase of materials.

Overall

• Develop and maintain procurement policies and procedures, recommending and implementing improvements, including but not limited to cost control, cash flow planning, quality standards, mitigate supply chain risks, Purchase Order management, vendor selection, set-up and on-boarding process, contract negotiations, dual source of supply.
• Stay updated on industry trends, market conditions, and new products or materials that could benefit the company.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with procurement, including supply chain disruptions.
• Lead, mentor, and support the Purchasing team.
• Establish and maintain Purchasing Key Performance Indicators
• Prepare various reports including but not limited to price records, cost trends, supplier performance, lead times, delivery on-time, inventory coverage.
• Continuously evaluate and improve procurement processes to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Perform other tasks or jobs as need or required.

REQUIREMENTS

Knowledge, Experience & Competencies

• Five years' progressive experience in purchasing in a manufacturing environment, preferably in the food industry.
• Post-secondary education in Business Administration, Procurement or related field.
• Excellent negotiation and supplier management skills
• Strong and effective communication skills
• Strong knowledge of supply chain management
• Adaptability and excellent time management skills
• Ability to work autonomously and with little direction in a high volume, fast paced environment.
• Experience with an ERP, preferably SAGE
• Proficient on Excel and PowerPoint