Procurement Category Manager - Ingredients

Job Summary

The Procurement Category Manager – Ingredients will be responsible for creating and implementing sourcing strategies that reduce the total cost of ownership, drive value, ensure supply continuity, and support our company’s growth and innovation goals. This role requires collaboration with internal business partners – R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, and Business Development – and suppliers to reduce risks and costs to our operational plants.

Additionally, this role will drive results through competitive bidding, negotiating, and analyzing data/market trends for ingredient categories. This opportunity promotes long‑term strategic thinking while driving multiple initiatives across procurement. Success in this role comes to those who are highly analytical, strategic, and thrive in a dynamic environment.

This is a hybrid role; you will be required to work in our Downers Grove, IL corporate office 4 days/week and remotely 1 day/week.

This position will report to the Sr. Procurement Manager of Ingredients and duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Analyze spend data, conduct market research, and understand trends in customer and business priorities to build and execute category procurement strategies for key ingredient categories.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and supply agreements that balance cost competitiveness, quality, and reliability to ensure Makers Pride is paying the lowest total cost.
• Rationalize ingredient supplier base for cost efficiency, lead‑time, quality, regionalization, standardization, supply assurance, and compliance with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.

• Build cross functional stakeholder alignment and manage the approval of supplier and ingredient changes.
• Understand Makers Pride quality and regulatory guidelines for supplier and ingredient evaluation. Evaluate and recommend changes based on those guidelines.
• Lead contracting process in collaboration with Legal department; ensure compliance post contract execution.

• Deliver YOY sustainable total cost savings to drive business growth.
• Improve cash flow and working capital by negotiating extended payment terms.
• Conduct monthly spend and PPV analysis to communicate on risk management, contracting balances, and economic forecasts.

• Create and present supplier scorecards to measure, track, and improve supplier performance.
• Lead supplier business reviews to discuss best practices and issues and to ultimately improve supplier performance and strengthen business partnerships.
• Innovate within the procurement space by automating and/or improving tools or processes, and integrating artificial intelligence (AI) to better support the Procurement Lifecycle.

• 5-7+ years of experience in a procurement organization performing category/vendor management, contract management, negotiating complex purchases, and bidding.
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university or equivalent combination of education and experience. CPM or CPIM certification is a plus.
• Strong leader with a demonstrated track record of driving Total Cost of Ownership category strategies, developing pricing models, negotiating and influencing across all levels of an organization.
• Demonstrated track record of managing multiple projects and driving them to completion to meet business objectives.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel. Must have a strong understanding of the VLOOKUP function and pivot tables.
• Solid financial acumen with experience in budgeting and analyzing PPV (Purchase Price Variance) and explaining logic when setting standards.
• Ability to leverage data to make fact‑based decisions that support company’s initiative for lowest total cost of ownership.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience with incorporating AI into daily procurement responsibilities is a plus.
• Thrives to work within fast paced culture and operate with significant autonomy.
• Ability to travel within the US or Canada.

The information provided in this document provides an overview of the most common…