Sr. Manager, Strategic Sourcing

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At Lactalis in the USA, we're committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive-whether you're just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we're proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani Italian cheeses and ricotta, President specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone's cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond cheddar, and Parmalat milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow, Oui, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, :ratio, Green Mountain Creamery, and Mountain High, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun, Gopi, and Arz.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values-Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone's unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don't meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis USA, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing based in Bedford, NH, Chicago, IL, Buffalo, NY, or Minneapolis, MN.

The Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing is a key member of the Purchasing Team North America (NA), responsible for developing and implementing short- and medium-term purchasing strategies, purchasing policies, practices, and systems. The incumbent will have a strong collaborative working relationship with the Company's global procurement team, local (Canadian and US) internal stakeholders throughout the organization. The Senior Manager, Strategic Sourcing will also lead a team to ensure that the overall goals of the organization are being met, including total cost and supply objectives.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Supporting global strategy & negotiation initiatives led by the global procurement team by providing information such as pricing specifications and vendor listings, market intelligence and negotiating at local level for finalization. Then implement set strategies and initiatives at a North American level.
• Develop and lead local short- and medium-term sourcing strategies by using in-depth knowledge and analysis of key cost drivers.
• Develop, maintain, and implement with the support of the global team a sustainable category purchasing strategy at zone level.
• Accountable for the management of all contracts for the Category at the zone level, including qualify vendors, tender, negotiate, and implement all contracts.
• Lead cost and supply risks for key material supplies within category by maintaining up to date knowledge of market changes to alert on the risk, contracting in advance of the concern or contracting low and long if it is a price risk, and finding and qualifying alternate vendors or alternate materials.
• Ensure that purchased materials, suppliers and services are following the company's requirements.
• Evaluate and ensure that all plants are following proper purchasing procedures and communicate changes in purchasing policies and procedures as required.
• Identify and execute negotiation cost savings initiatives on category managed by incumbent, and on escalated contracts from team with senior leadership at Supplier end.
• For the categories the incumbent directly managers, identify and execute value analysis and vendor transfer savings opportunities as a cross-functional effort to deliver cost reduction targets and optimize other performance measures such as on-time delivery & lead time on purchased goods and services, without jeopardizing quality, flexibility, and supply continuity.
• Participate as an active cross-functional team member by providing insight to the leadership within Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, Quality, R&D, Sales and Marketing and other key functional areas of the business for effective project execution such as new launches, line extensions, and process optimization. The scope includes sourcing, pricing, as well as sharing process improvements ideas provided by the vendors.
• Responsible for hiring and leading a high performing team of purchasing professionals.
• Lead and manage direct reports by establishing goals and priorities, and providing work direction, reviewing performance, providing work support with suppliers, and providing feedback, and in conjunction with the Director, determining training and development needs. Manage the team located in all the zone countries.
• Full owner ship of Category Budget with input on the Budget Assumptions from the Senior director Procurement and the global Strategic procurement team
• Develop supplier relationships to optimize supplier quality and performance, including continuous improvement, innovation, and reduction in total cost of ownership to add value to North America region. Manage supplier quality and supplier non-conformance concerns.
• Perform administrative duties such as tracking cost savings initiatives and providing monthly status reports, reviewing and approving pricelists for upload to SAP, validating PPV and LPS data.
• Responsible for the category standards input by reviewing weighted average cost and/or the new contract pricing and the application of the approved assumptions, as well as providing insight on the market for latest estimate & monthly budget forecast reports.
• Participate as an active member of the Strategic Sourcing team by sharing purchasing strategies, supporting teamwork, and participating in joint learning and development initiative. Presenting to executive members of the various divisions at the zone level.
• Support and manage company acquisitions with the support of the global procurement team.
• Could be assigned to special projects by the Senior director, Corporate Procurement.

Work Conditions

• Travel is required up to 25% monthly.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office, in accordance with the guidelines of the Hybrid Work Policy.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and well-being of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company's overall performance and success.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, or another appropriate discipline is required.

Experience

• Minimum of Ten (10) years working experience, with five (5) to seven (7) years' experience in a Procurement function, preferably at a food company
• Management experience is an asset

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Experience in negotiating complex multi-year agreements through RFP/ RFQ bidding processes

Competencies

• High level of initiative, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Good leadership and ability to interact with a wide variety of management levels and business situations
• Strong planning, project management, leadership skills and execution skills
• Rigorous data driven/analytical capability
• Strong negotiation skill
• Able to positively influence others
• Ability to lead and motivate staff
• Strong presentation skills and ability to present to groups of various size and levels of leadership
• Foundational knowledge of contract law and legal terms & conditions
• Foundational knowledge of financial statements i.e. the impact of the role on the business
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office including advanced proficiency MS Excel and MS PowerPoint

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.